Sir – Should Alton grow by 500, 1,000 or 2,000 new dwellings over the next 20 years?
East Hampshire District Council has identified sites for about 700, which are either under construction, have planning permission or are committed in the Local Plan. So Alton must find new sites for up to another 1,300 dwellings over the next 20 years.
Contributing to these numbers, we understand that there is a list of more than 570 affordable homes needed in Alton. We need to have a say in where they should go.
Come to the Alton Town Partnership meeting at the Community Centre on Saturday morning, February 28, to hear more about this important issue and have your say. The meeting will start at 10 am and end at 2 pm but anyone is welcome to drop in for a shorter time and see the rolling presentations which will explain the choices.
We need your input so we can voice to the planners the views of the people of Alton. This is to ensure that, if the town is to develop, then it does so as we would like it to, rather than as imposed by folk elsewhere who do not know or understand the town so well.
This is a crucial issue for the future of our town and we urge you to come and let us have your views.
Some of these houses may be included in a development scheme to regenerate the Station Approach area which is being managed by the Alton Town Partnership in partnership with key landowners and the district council.
Preliminary outlines of the scheme will be available on February 28. Your views are essential to the future of this important gateway to our town.
Please come and give us your opinion on housing and on the station area project.
Edward Hepper,
Alton Town Partnership Environmental Group, Queens Road, Alton