MP Tells Planners to be More Adventurous

Mark Oaten has called on development planners to accept the sustainable and environmentally friendly proposals for the Old Park Wood site and resolve this long running issue once and for all.

The development of Old Park Wood is long overdue and Mark Oaten believes the Development Control representatives need to face up to the reality that long term planning, which the current proposals offer, need to be adopted. A policy of continued refusal ignores the situation on the ground which will not simply go away.

The current proposals for redevelopment, for a small number of live/work units, offer on the other hand a well thought out forward thinking plan for the area which Mark Oaten believes should be accepted.

Among the major benefits of the proposed development are vast energy savings for residents due to the use of the latest environmentally friendly and energy efficient products which will reduce CO2 emissions by at least 95%. A mini-bus service will also be provided for at least the first three years running into New Alresford which will help to reduce car journeys and therefore CO2 emissions further.

There is more than 50 years worth of industrial contamination on the site. And while the Development Council have no plan for dealing with this industrial waste, which would cost between £750,000 and £1.2m to clear up, the proposals would tackle this problem and pick up the bill through redevelopment.

Unsurprisingly therefore the plans have received widespread support from various sources including Bishop’s Sutton Parish Council, which have raised a petition in favour, adjoining councillors, Mark Oaten and members of the wider community.

Mark Oaten commented:

“I don’t understand how these plans can be refused. Old Park Wood and all the industrial waste in it are there, it’s a reality, and it needs to be dealt with. These plans provide a perfect opportunity to do just that.

“Its friendly to the environment, reduces costs for residents, cleans up the waste and reduces emissions by a huge amount. Isn’t this exactly the kind of development we should be supporting?