Chris Packham attacks 'short-sighted' Ringwood housing plan near nature reserve
TV NATURALIST Chris Packham has intervened to voice concerns about the proposed construction of over 140 homes on green belt land north of Ringwood.
As reported in the A&T, Gladman Developments Ltd has applied to New Forest District Council to develop the fields off Snails Lane, east of the A338 Salisbury Road.
Speaking out about the proposals in an online video, Mr Packham said he had “real concerns” about the possible development near Blashford Lakes Nature Reserve.
He said: “This area is a very important wildlife corridor between the western escarpment of the New Forest and the Avon flood meadows.
“It is a few metres from Blashford Lakes nature reserve, a Site of Special Scientific Interest, and it is also a top place for wildlife in its own right.
“It's got otters, it's got more than 100 species of bird, it’s home to breeding oystercatchers and wintering woodcock. It's a pretty special place when it comes to bats, it's got greater horseshoe bats and barbastelle bats – they're amongst the most highly protected. It's also got eight other bat species.”
Although the land is within the green belt, it may lose that protection if NFDC’s draft Local Plan is approved later this year with an allocation for 100 homes, among 10,500 in the area outside the national park by 2036.
Residents have warned the construction of 143 new properties would harm local wildlife, add to congestion to the “dangerous” main road, and put future residents at risk of flooding.
Others have said extra traffic from a site with poor transport links would transform the character of Snails Lane, a private road used by commoners to drive livestock onto the New Forest.
Mr Packham said another reason he was against the plans was because the site is on a flood plain.
He added: “In the winter time, some parts of this area are over a metre deep in water. If we put loads of new houses in there, that water has to go somewhere. It's going to go downstream, where it's going to cause more flooding.”
Mr Packham said he understood the need to build new homes, but said a rethink was needed. He said: “This is short-sighted short-termism and we need to think about the future both for us and our wildlife.”
In its application Gladman said the new homes would help tackle the current shortfall of accommodation as well as offering “opportunities for biodiversity enhancements”.
The scheme would include a children’s play area, it added, green space to relieve pressure on the New Forest, and a drainage basin to retain surface water and provide new wildlife habitat.
The application also claims 72 dwellings are earmarked for below open-market prices.
NFDC is scheduled to make a decision by early March. If the outline plans are approved, permission would have to be granted for further details before construction could begin.
