April 26th 2001: Calling for 10,000 people to join the fight, Winchester's Save Barton Farm group is extending its campaign to stop the building of 2,000 houses.

To meet government demands, the county must provide 42,000 homes by 2011, and a further 14,000 houses could be built if they are needed. Land north of the city, which includes Barton Farm, Kings Worthy and Littleton, would take 2,000 of the reserve number.

Chairman of the Save Barton Farm group, Gavin Blackman, said their campaign would be strengthened if all the areas earmarked for development joined forces. The motion was carried by 200 supporters at a public meeting at Peter Symonds' College, Winchester, on Wednesday.

Speakers said houses should not be built at Barton Farm as the area was susceptible to flooding and the extra population would make traffic congestion worse and increase pressure on schools and hospitals.

The possibility that the area could be designated an area of outstanding natural beauty, or become part of a South Downs National Park, was also discussed.

Rallying the troops, Mr Blackman said: "We must step up our campaign and take the fight to the city council and the county council. It is no good being a part-time group that reacts to things which have already been decided.

"Winchester is one of the most treasured cities in England for its history, landscape and culture. If we allow the development to happen, it will just become another southern town surrounded by urban sprawl.

He warned: "Things still seem to be progressing the wrong way. Sooner or later, we will find the ink has dried and a site for a major development area has been found, north of Winchester."

Prospective Tory candidate, Andrew Hayes, who has a home in Micheldever, favoured widening the campaign. "As long as you have central government saying you have to have a certain number of houses,will always be a threat to Barton Farm.

"You have to attack the national approach which underlies the threat."

Maurice Chapman, of Winchester City Residents' Association, said: "We need to present a tunited front, dealing with it on a parochial level will fail."

Calling on Save Barton Farm members to stand as city councillors, Abbotts Road resident, Dick Bays, said: "We need people inside the council so there are no secrets and no hidden agendas. If you become any insular local group, not working with anyone else, you are lost."

Mr Bays accused city councillors of not being interested in Barton Farm, prompting an angry interruption from Ian Tait, the only councillor at the meeting.

The Save Barton Farm group has 3,500 supporters, hopes to increase that to 10,000 and to raise £10,000 to support the campaign.

Speaking after the meeting, Colley Close resident, Joy Day, said: "I live close to Barton farm, but it's not just a case of 'not in my back yard'. It is the infrastructure I am concerned about. The schools and the hospitals won't be able to cope and that is more important."

Geoff Brutey, of Manningford Close, said: "We've lived 20 years in the area backing onto Barton Farm and always walk our dogs there. I feel the area is so lovely it would be a travesty to destroy it."

His wife, Vera, added: "They will build great big five-bedroom houses with double garages--not affordable homes. I think it would be a tragedy for Winchester."