But don't bother ask anyone what they think of the idea
Liberal Democrats want to rubber-stamp recommendations that could lead to hundreds of houses being built across the district while not consulting residents, local Conservatives said today.
Tory city councillors have branded the move, to take place at Wednesday's full council meeting, as a Liberal Democrat attempt to engineer an undemocratic fait accompli and have vowed to overturn the plan.
A report from the Government's Planning Inspectorate said that the four sites at Pitt Manor and Worthy Road/Francis Gardens in Winchester, Spring Gardens, Alresford, and Little Frenchies Field, Denmead, should be used if the district do not meet their quota of development, even though the district is above its target.
The specialist council committee that looks at these issues recommended the authority reject the inspectorate's idea to earmark the areas as reserve sites last month.
But the Lib Dem controlled cabinet are demanding the full council agree with the idea despite there never being a discussion about the proposals.
The move leaves residents in these areas having to face the fact their neighbourhoods could have hundreds of houses built without a single shred of consultation with them.
Group leader of the Conservatives on the city council George Beckett said: "This move is undemocratic and again shows that the Liberal Democrats have lost touch with local people.
"Everyone knows that house building is an emotive subject and local people should be fully involved in any decision that affects them, let alone ones as massive as this.
"It has come from nowhere. During the years we have been discussing the new local plan, it has never been suggested by the council's officers or discussed by councillors or local people. Now at the last moment it has apparently become imperative we adopt this idea before the people who live near these sites can say a word.
Denmead Conservative city councillor Freddie Allgood said: "People in Denmead have fought tooth and nail to stop development at Frenchies Field only for them to be completely ignored by the Liberal Democrats. They want to sign the area's death warrant by making it easier for developers to get their permission in the future if the quota is not met.
"Councillors and local people have worked at this issue for thirty years and I am astounded that suddenly this decision is being set upon us without a care for residents' feelings."
Notes:
The Planning Inspectorate have recommended that houses are built in the following numbers at each site.
Pitt Manor: 200 houses
Worthy Road, Francis Gardens: 80 houses
Little Frenchies Field, Denmead: 70 houses
Spring Gardens, Alresford: 35 houses
10th January 2006