Stalwart Hordle councillor Ivor Spreadbury quits over NFDC approval of 97 new properties on Everton Road

A LONGSTANDING parish councillor has resigned in protest over New Forest District Council granting approval for nearly 100 homes in Hordle.

Ivor Spreadbury quit after Bargate Homes’ scheme for 97 new properties in Everton Road got the green light, despite being opposed by the parish council, local district councillors and over 80 residents.

He has now vowed to start his own group campaigning for better housing for the village saying NFDC had made an “atrocious” decision and lacked “all common sense”.

The application for the 6.67-hectare site, allocated for at least 100 homes in NFDC’s Local Plan, has 49 properties marked as “affordable”.

It was granted permission by district councillors, with a report backing it as an “attractive scheme releasing much-needed housing”.

In response to Mr Spreadbury’s resignation, NFDC told the A&T the land had been earmarked for homes after “much consultation and debate”.

Mr Spreadbury, who had been a Hordle Parish Councillor for 10 years, said: “They have now created a situation where we have a huge accident black spot on that road – and 100 homes which the village did not want.

“It highlights that the parish council really has no power at all and we are just wasting our time.

“All the meetings that we called, with a hall full of people – it was clear that this was not wanted and it went ahead anyway.

“They have been given permission to knock down established oak trees – some are over 100 years old with tree preservation orders and they have agreed that they can just be knocked down.”

He asked: “What kind of precedent does that set to developers? If you’ve got a tree in the way, just knock it down.”

Mr Spreadbury said Hordle residents were not against new housing but it had to be in the “right place” and supported by highway improvements and new community infrastructure.

He continued: “I intend to form a new organisation called Acceptable Housing for Hordle and encourage residents to contact me and register their views on what is acceptable housing.”

He said the first priority would be to stop “at all costs” a separate development for 156 new homes on former greenbelt off Hordle Lane in the village, close to the primary school.

He said: “We must go to the highest possible levels, like inviting Michael Gove to view what is going on and show him what is happening to villages all around the country.”

A spokesperson for NFDC said: “The site at Hordle was allocated for development within the New Forest Local Plan (2016-36). The Local Plan was the subject of much consultation and debate and, following a public inquiry, the plan was adopted in July 2020.

“The Everton Road site is one of 18 larger strategic housing sites across the district. The Everton Road allocation requires the site to accommodate at least 100 homes, together with the necessary infrastructure.

“The planning application that was approved by members at the committee meeting in December 2022 was for 97 homes, of which more than 50% will be affordable.”

Hordle parish clerk Sarah Pitt said the council would miss Mr Spreadbury, adding: “We are very very sad to see Ivor go – he has made a huge contribution to the parish over many years of service.

“As there will be an election within the next six months we will not co-opt another councillor but wait for the election.”

To contact Mr Speadbury, email i.spreadbury@sky.com or call 01425 615605.