Village ‘betrayed’ by housing vote

New Forest councillors have ignored 685 objections and approved plans to redevelop the former car park of the Carpenter's Arms in Burley Road, Bransgore.

Villagers living near the 154-year-old pub made a last-ditch attempt to block the scheme.

June Richards New Forest Council's Planning and Development Control Committee that they would be "betraying Bransgore" if they approved the scheme.

Ann Hickman said the new homes would increase the shortage of open space and added: "The whole parish is against this scheme."

Others objectors cited the traffic hazards likely to be caused by the residents using the same access as pub customers.

Protesters claimed that people visiting the pub would leave vehicles in residential roads when the pub car park was full.

Brockenhurst councillor Maureen Holding described the proposed development as "too intense", claiming it was out of character and would cause cramming on the site.

Marchwood member Alan Shotter said the demand for parking at the pub at weekends exceeded the spaces available.

A report to councillors said the application had resulted in 71 letters of protest and a petition signed by 614 people.

However Inntown Properties, said its scheme was a quality development that would transform what they described as a "rather untidy" part of the village.

Council officers said it was a significant improvement on a previous proposal that was rejected by a government-appointed planning inspector.

Chris Elliott, head of development control, told the committee: "There's a considerable difference between what the inspector described as unacceptable and what you're looking at today."

Councillors approved the application by a large majority.

The decision marks the end of a battle that began in 2004, when the authority refused an application to build nine houses on the site.

A proposal for five houses and a flat was thrown out in February last year and a subsequent appeal was dismissed.