PR 3030

COUNTY COUNCIL TO REPRESENT HAMPSHIRE'S VIEWS AT INQUIRY

The County Council is set to represent the views of Hampshire residents on important issues, such as future housing numbers, waste management and the need for infrastructure to keep pace with development, at an inquiry into the South East Plan.

The Government has appointed an independent panel of planning inspectors to conduct a type of public inquiry called an Examination-in-Public (EiP) into the draft South East plan.

Hampshire County Council has been named on a draft list of organisations the panel wishes to invite to speak at the EiP and topics it plans to debate. Individuals and organisations can suggest changes to the draft list, which has been published for consultation, up until 28 September 2006.

Leader of Hampshire County Council, Councillor Ken Thornber, said "The Examination in Public will provide an opportunity for the individuals and organisations invited to put across their views. This is the last opportunity to influence the plan before it is approved and it is important that anyone who feels strongly about future development in Hampshire looks at the submissions that were made and the list of proposed topics and speakers and lets the panel know if there are any gaps.

"Through our `Holding out for Hampshire' campaign we have already voiced strong concerns that our roads are already near gridlock, our health and social services are buckling under the strain of an increasing elderly population, and our water supplies are stretched to capacity. We have told both the South East Regional Assembly and the Government that Hampshire will not accept any new housing without adequate Government funding for the infrastructure to accompany it and that we will fight any proposals for additional housing over and above that allocated in the draft South East Plan.

"I want to assure residents that we will continue campaigning to protect the character and identity of the county's cities, towns and villages and to preserve the quality of life of the residents who live in them, and will be making the views of Hampshire residents clearly known at the Examination in Public."

The draft list is on the Panel's web site: www.eipsoutheast.co.uk and copies are available to view at Hampshire County Council's Headquarters in Winchester, and in all County Council Information Centres.

Hampshire County Council is highlighting the opportunity to comment on the draft list in the latest edition of its newsletter 'Planning Hampshire's Future' which is now being printed and will be mailed direct to all parish/town councils, and a range of other organisations and individuals who have registered an interest in strategic planning.

Comments on the list must be received in writing by 5.00pm Thursday 28 September 2006 and should give reasons for the suggestions made. A final list of `Matters and Participants' will be published on the EiP website on Thursday 12 October 2006. The Examination-in-Public will open on 28 November 2006 and close 30 March 2007

The address to send comments to is:

Mrs Sue Morgan

Panel Secretary

Bridge House

RSS EIP Secretariat

1 Walnut Tree Close

Guildford GU1 4GA

ENDS

For media enquiries please contact: Kirsty Gunner on 01962 847110 kirsty.gunner@hants.gov.uk

07/09/2006