Boorley Green debate at centre of by-election

But housing at Boorley Green was propelled onto the national political stage last night, amid frantic campaigning in the Eastleigh by-election.

Candidates have found themselves caught up in the row – with Lib Dem hopeful Mike Thornton admitting he supported the homes plans, despite his party claiming they want to safeguard green spaces.

Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg told the Daily Echo that some green spaces need to be sacrificed for the greater good.

He said: “Protecting green spaces doesn’t mean you don’t provide homes for people to live in. People need affordable homes to live in.”

Protesters warned yesterday that candidates could lose thousands of votes if they backed the Boorley Green plan.

One resident said at the meeting: “This plan will have an impact on local residents and also how they will vote in the upcoming by-election.”

The Eastleigh Conservatives even dubbed the Lib Dem campaign for green spaces as “hypocritical”, with leader Godfrey Olson saying their promise to protect green spaces was “misleading”.

But Lib Dems in Eastleigh hit back yesterday, saying that their plans were in line with the coalition’s stance on housing.

What do you think:

CHRIS TAPP, from Botley Park Golfers, said : "It simply is too many houses in the wrong place."

STAN HOLDEN, Botley Parish Action Group, said: "It's on grade one farm land - it's an Eastleigh Borough Council policy to protect high quality farm land."

COLIN MERCER, chair of Botley Parish Council, said: "It's in the wrong place and it will destroy Botley."

SUE GRINHAM, Botley Parish Action Group, said: "It's avoiding the local plan independent review.
"It's not recognising that Eastleigh doesn't want this level of housing."

MICHAEL COMBS, 65, from Durley, said: "I think it's totally wrong that green fields are sacrificed where there's plenty of existing sites to be developed."

MARLENE WOOD, 69, from Hedge End, said: "I think the plan is terrible.
"We just don't need the extra housing."