Ringwood councillor Tony Ring resigns from NFDC planning committee in 'frustration' after 400 homes approved north of Hightown Road

A RINGWOOD councillor resigned from New Forest District Council’s planning committee after outline plans were approved for 400 new homes in the town.

Cllr Tony Ring, former town mayor, told the A&T he was frustrated that members were “eternally snookered” into approving applications that were not suitable.

The application by Taylor Wimpey for land north of Hightown Road was approved despite objections from locals and Ringwood Town Council.

The site was originally earmarked for 270 homes in NFDC’s Local Plan.

At the meeting Cllr Ring, informed colleagues he was resigning from the committee as he felt locals were not listened to and their concerns not acknowledged.

He will remain the Conser-vative member for Ringwood East and Sopley until the local elections on Thursday 4th May.

Cllr Ring told the A&T: “We’ve heard from government that planning must take account of local knowledge and feeling.

“My strong feeling is that this particular application is overdevelopment for the area and takes no account of flooding events that occurred in three of the last five years.

“It is that feeling of frustration that local representatives have no opportunity to bring about some restrictions or acknowledgement of the problems. We are eternally snookered into approving applications time and time again.”

He added he had since written to colleagues to clarify his position which he said was not intended to criticise, condemn or embarrass NFDC.

Included in the 400-home plan is access from a new four-arm roundabout onto the A31 slip road, with the northern arm continuing into Southampton Road towards Poulner. The details will have to be agreed before work can start.

As reported in the A&T, in January a long-standing councillor at Hordle Parish Council also resigned in protest after NFDC granted approval for nearly 100 homes in the village.

Ivor Spreadbury said the decision to allow Bargate Homes’ scheme for 97 new properties in Everton Road was an “atrocious” decision.

He vowed to start his own group campaigning for better housing locally.