An expanded car boot sale is coming to Weyhill after plans were approved by Test Valley Borough Council (TVBC).

North and Sons Limited previously held a car boot sale on land next on the Weyhill Fairground roundabout for the past four years. Following a decision to set up an artisan market on this site, plans were submitted to approve the move of the car boot to a larger site near Motley Mill, just off the A342.

These plans have now been given permission to go ahead, with the sales set to be held for 28 days a year between March and October.

Plans for the car boot sale were first submitted in 2020 after a decision to move to a larger site was taken. However, these initial plans were later withdrawn after concerns were raised by Hampshire Highways about the access to the site.

The new plans have taken account of those concerns, with cars entering and exiting at a central gateway with a marshal to control traffic. The size of the site, in addition to these measures, should ensure that cars do not back up onto the A342.

Graham North, the applicant, said that the car boot would operate between 7am and 1pm on Sunday mornings between March and October. He expects between 30 and 70 pitches at the site, with up to 500 people attending each sale.

As part of the plans, ecological improvements will be made to the site, including planting the hedgerow nearest the road with native species, reducing the cutting of them, and creating management policies to encourage Skylarks in the area.

After considering the plans, TVBC officials approved the plans earlier this month, with the car boot sale potentially starting this year, Covid restrictions allowing.

These plans are in addition to those by the same applicant for an artisan market in Weyhill, which was given permission back in January. The market has yet to begin.