By Nick Adams-King
This evening I’ve been at the Joint Planning Committee for Romsey Town and Extra Parish Councils. We were talking about the outline planning application for the Whitenap development.
Well done to everyone who spoke, particularly Richard Buss, Kate Greatrix and Cllr Mark Cooper for their speeches.
Delighted to say the committee voted to object to the application as it stands
I have to say I made my speech up on the hoof. This is an approximation of what I said:
“Hello my name is Nick Adams-King and I am the County Councillor for the Whitenap site and also the Chair of Romsey Future. In my role as County Councillor I’ve been successful in explaining the constraints of access through Saint Barbs Close and Whitenap Lane to Hampshire County Council Highways and I am delighted that they have withdrawn their support for vehicular access through either entrance.
All the speakers have been correct in identifying the vital inclusion of the railway bridge in any plans for this site. Indeed you will be aware that there are plans to relocate the Crosfield Hall from its current location to a site at Romsey Rapids, ensuring that there is easy access from the new development to the Rapids will therefore be essential to its integration as part of the town.
In 2019 Test Valley were almost unique in attracting funding for a citizens assembly which, while focused on the south of town centre project, looked at the wider picture too. The members of the citizens assembly were chosen to reflect the demography of the wider area. We therefore know the type of town to which our local population aspire.
They made it clear to us that they wanted an environmentally friendly, bio diverse, market town. They wanted us to be a leader in nature conservation and in biodiversity gain and environmental enhancement. We have that evidence and we owe it to our residents to deliver upon their hopes.
My fear with this application is that there is no aspiration of this kind for the site
This is going to be the largest development in Romsey for not just our generation, but for those that come after us.
We owe it to our children and grandchildren to get this right. To ensure that this development matches the wonderful town in which we live and the priorities we know our fellow Romsonians have.
I ask you to be aspirational for Romsey. To object to the current application for the site. To require something better for us all.”
Thanks to Romsey Town Council staff for a really well organised meeting.
