Letters: Fawley homes look more like a London development

SIR – I write in reference to the article in last week’s edition concerning the development intended for the former Fawley power station.

I was aghast at the computer generated image of part of the proposed development. Surely I thought that must be a photo of a bank side development sitting alongside the Thames in London.

If not, then frankly, that’s where the proposed development belongs and not in land bordering the New Forest.

This said I have little doubt that if such a development takes place then it will not provide homes at an affordable rate for locals, especially youngsters, but rather incomers moving down from London and its bordering counties.

Given that it appears to be accepted that the New Forest is already at breaking point with visitors, surely what we need is to maintain a suitable buffer zone between existing populated areas and the Forest itself and not to take steps to increase the burden upon the Forest as will surely be the case.

It’s my view that the the power station should simply be demolished and in its place the area left to nature and possibly adjacent either to Fawley or Calshot, a number of truly affordable homes built.

Fortunately I no longer use the A326 as a means of commuting to work. I know from the odd occasion I do have to use it either early morning or evening that the traffic flow is far worse now than it was several years ago. I pity anybody having to endure it if the proposed development does take place.

Lest anybody counters this point with the regeneration of the Fawley-Southampton rail line, I would just say that this has been discussed for years with no real sign of it happening nor will it, I am sure.

I would suggest that the persons pushing this development on are not concerned with the needs of the local people or that of the Forest but purely as a means of increasing their own fortunes.

Steve Whitfield,

Devonshire Gardens,

Hythe