ON 10TH JULY 2008, HAMPSHIRE COUNTY COUNCIL VOTED HAMBLE AIRFIELD INTO THE PLAN AS A VIABLE OPTION FOR GRAVEL EXTRACTION TO FULFIL THE REQUIREMENTS OF THE HAMPSHIRE MINERALS PLAN

10 members of the village, went to  HCC chambers to make individual deputations to the County Council in the hope of getting them to see Sense regarding digging up the airfield as a viable option to solve their need for gravel.

The gallery was overflowing with residents from the village, so much so that they overflowed into the main chamber standing around the back of the councillors seating.

Having only 5 minutes each to speak the deputees picked a topic to cover all the
issues:

1. Traffic - Any increase in traffic could have exponential effects on a road that is already over capacity. Also any attempts to have a traffic management plan where operations are only outside of rush hour is impossible here due to GE Aerospace, Coopervision etc shift patterns and also the school hours - rush hour begins at 1430, leaving only a 5 hour
period to move 120 trucks -  this is 1 truck every 2 mins past the Netley
Roundabout!

2. Schools, safety and access - the extraction site access is proposed to be opposite the entrance to the police training college, so crossing the footpath used by our school children!

3. Tourism & business Impacts.  Hamble considered Jewel in the crown for Eastleigh Borough Council tourism and 268 businesses likely to be affected. Already the housing market has been severely affected by the threat.

4. Environment - HCC have not completed their assessments for the potential environmental impact on the river

5. Why here in Hamble when Warsash has 10 million tonnes of gravel and has very few impacts on local residents as confirmed by their HCC's own consultants but igonored when considering the site.

6. River - customers, yacht clubs, environment effects etc

Some of our questions were answered with political 'assurances', some were just brushed off under the carpet.

Councillors made a decision on something they knew very little about and were misinformed by their committee.  Some were chatting and paying Little attention.  They seemed more interested in Political innuendoes.

However, please take note: When asked why Warsash - Chilling and Brownwich was knocked off the list the response was - CHILLING AND BROWNWICH MADE MANY MORE LETTERS OF COMPLAINT - OVER 2000! Hamble was probably half that - SO YOUR INPUT IS VITAL GOING FORWARD IF OUR CONCERNS ARE TO BE HEARD.

The voting was Political - 41 for - all Conservative, and 27 against all Lib Dem.  What does that say about our system? As RAGE we have tried really hard to keep this from being Political.  This is a Village issue not political so we will have to work out a better attack for the independent Planning Inspector.

It ended with a promise from Cllr Thornber categorically promising that if this did happen the airfield would be put back to agricultural land with some public access and new habitats (definition of habitat needed!)  He said the Council would buy the 62 hectares form Persimmon Homes and the residents of Hamble would be included in the Planning of the site.

If you want to read any of the deputations made on 10th July, please go to the Documents page.

So What now?

WE NEED YOUR HELP - there will be another chance to voice our opinion and state our case when the second public consultation takes place in September/October 2008 when a Government Planning Inspector will review the process.

So Keep informed by signing up on the website for updates and forward this to others in the village - there are still people in the village who know nothing about this preposterous idea.

We will be holding a meeting in a few weeks in the village hall or School for the village - the idea is to work out a solid plan going forwards.

But make no mistake - We are going to fight it - but we WILL need your help - we do not have enough people at present to give it the justice it deserves so if you can help then that time has come to step up.

We will now also need legal help, and this will take serious money so fundraising will also be a priority.

Keep supporting Hamble RAGE and keep spreading the word. This is far from over yet, we just have to up our game by engaging more of you in the effort.

Thanks to those who have contributed thus far whether time or money.

Kind regards,

Hamble RAGE