CHILBOLTON residents have raised concerns about plans for seven houses on Test Valley Farm - claiming the former county councillor who owns the land ‘persuaded’ the borough council to include it in the local plan. 

As previously reported, Chilbolton villagers were up in arms after their ex-councillor submitted plans to build homes on a smallholding.

The land at Test Valley Farm forms part of an agricultural smallholding, with a number of restrictions attached to the use of the land. In 2012, Andrew Gibson built an annex at the house “without consent”, and subsequently gained retrospective planning permission for it.

Then, in 2018, he stepped down as Hampshire County Council’s (HCC) cabinet member for culture, recreation and countryside amid controversy after saying he had been in breach of conditions reserving the property for use by those working in agriculture, forestry or equestrian activities for over 10 years, during an application to relax the restrictions.

The former Hampshire County Councillor for Chilbolton and Wherwell now seeks to build seven properties on part of the farmland within the Chilbolton settlement boundary. 

However, residents have said the plans would “blight the area”, with 49 objections to the plans.

Now, some residents have claimed that the planning application should never have been allowed, because Test Valley Farm was not in the Local Plan map drawn up by the Parish Council and therefore not considered as a development site.

You can read the full story and reaction in this week's paper. Also in this week's edition:

  • Police issued six dispersal orders and arrested one man in Andover town centre over the bank holiday weekend, as part of their recent crackdown on ongoing anti-social behaviour in the area.
  • A young couple from Andover are sending an urgent warning to dog owners in the area after their beloved puppy tragically died following a weekend walk at Anton Lakes.
  • Andover’s youth festival, A-Fest, will be back onto the High Street for its eighth year this weekend.
  • An Andover woman has launched a fundraiser in aid of a young girl who has recently been diagnosed with cancer.
  • An army veteran and his wife from Andover have been left angry after they were scammed, losing more than £1,000 worth of Canon equipment that they were selling through Facebook Marketplace.
  • The mother of a teenage philanthropist has spoken out about how the kindness of a farm near their home has helped boost her daughter’s confidence. 
  • An Andover charity which supports people with learning disabilities has officially rebranded with a launch event at the Guildhall.
  • Two Andover councillors have taken part in a 10k charity run to raise funds for a youth charity.
  • PLUS: Two pages of YOUR letters
  • PICTURES: The best of our Camera Club's April 'family' theme
  • Cllr Phil North's column
  • An eight-page puzzle special
  • Entertainment news
  • Sports news
  • And much, much more
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