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Parish Council Meeting this week - Resident (17th Jul 2014 - 16:19:39) Does anyone have any more information with regards to the Parish Council meeting which took place last Monday evening with regards to the Chiltley Farm application? I have seen the article in the Herald but wondered if anyone there had anymore information?

Re: Parish Council Meeting this week - Kat (17th Jul 2014 - 21:44:09) Resident I read the article on the front page of the Herald as well. It is hardly surprising that the Planning Committee appear to have decided to agree to the Chicken Farm application before the meeting. This is the way the Council do their business nowadays. Secret meetings, behind closed doors, most of them unreported to the public, and without written records available. It continues to be the opinion of many in this village that the Council are not transparent, honest, or open, or even democratic. I am somewhat staggered that they agreed the application at all. No brainer comes to mind in more ways than one. Someone I know went to the meeting. There were about 50-60 people who attended, which was moved to the Peak Centre where they witnessed a somewhat shambolic meeting and complete disregard to the views of the public. Apparently, the ex Chairman of Planning Committee, Councillor Don Jerrard gave one of his waffles, blaming the District Council for the recent exhibition they held for the people of Liphook. That\'s probably because the outcome of the exhibition showed significant support for the Bohunt development which many councillors don\'t like. Perhaps if Councillor Don Jerrard had done more during his tenure as Chairman of the Planning Committee things might be different. I have also heard that some of the councillors are members of the SOS anti Bohunt group so I would have thought they would have a conflict of interests of some sort if they voted for the application. I am sure other people will have more information for you.

Re: Parish Council Meeting this week - Resident (17th Jul 2014 - 22:30:36) Yes I have to say I have heard some fairly interesting takes on the evenings proceedings. However, surely if some are members of an opposing site, (Bohunt Manor) then that IS a conflict of interest and should have been flagged up as such at the beginning of the meeting? Otherwise surely that makes the entire parish council meeting "null and void" and should be scrapped in favour of a new meeting "without" conflict of interest? Or am I mistaken....? It can't be a fair and unbiased opinion otherwise, surely?

Re: Parish Council Meeting this week - Darren (18th Jul 2014 - 09:36:20) I note with interest SOS Bohunt are trying a damage limitation exercise with their recent post on Liphook Talkback. The farcical meeting on Monday, and the subsequent "No Objection" vote to the Chiltey Farm application highlights the possible conflict of interest among certain BLPC members and the SOS Bohunt group. How BLPC can object to the Lowsley Farm and OSU Nursing Home proposals but not the Chiltley Farm application (which will have the biggest impact on traffic congestion around The Square and local schools due to it's remote location) beggars belief. It certainly looks like some of our BLPC members have a hidden agenda, I wonder what that could be? Do we all small another rat? I do hope not, thought that was all behind us! Best think BLPC can do is to take a re-vote on Chiltley Farm after reading all the application details, the 250 public objection comments and the outcome of the LIPS exhibition and vote accordingly, reflecting the parishioners of Liphook opinion and not their own personal agenda.

Re: Parish Council Meeting this week - A. Ryan (18th Jul 2014 - 10:45:12) I noticed a planning sign at the entrance to the chicken farm today. I may be wrong but I am sure I haven't seen it before. It was dated the 18th June, so any correspondence arising from that notice would have been too late. The residents of Liphook I believe were firmly against this application.so why are they being ignored? There is an overwhelming consensus that the Bohunt land is the preferable application and any Councillor showing biased opinions for other applications which would be detrimental to the village should look hard as to why they would do this.

Re: Parish Council Meeting this week - Kat (18th Jul 2014 - 10:50:27) I took a look at the Parish Council regulations to see if it says anything. What I found which is very interesting. It is under Code of Conduct: "Pursuant to 7(d) above, any member who has an interest in a topic under debate that may affect their ability to fairly and objectively consider the subject will have a prejudicial interest. This shall be interpreted in the widest possible terms to accord with the rules of administrative law in relation to perceived bias. If a member of the public (with knowledge of the relevant facts) might conclude that your judgement of the public interest could be prejudiced by your interest, then your personal interest becomes a prejudicial interest. You cannot vote on a matter and must leave the meeting for both the discussion and the vote." So I think there is a biq question over the involvement of those councillors on the Planning Committee, who are connected with, or are members of, the SOS Bohunt group in the discussion and decision on the Chiltley application. Whatever the situation is, those councillors should have been open, and honest, so there was total transparency about their personal positions before the application was talked about. Hidden agendas and smelling rats? Based on what I read and hear, absolutely. The suggestion to take a re-vote is a good one. Sadly, I don't think it would make a jot of difference as you would probably get the same answer as the Parish Council as a body appear to be anti Bohunt as you can see if you look back on the threads on this website. Just waiting for Councillors to complain about the report in the Herald and tell us which councillors are members of the SOS Bohunt Group. Bound to be cronies and friends of councillors in both camps, and also the Chiltley group which is another issue. Farcical situation which is not a joke as it is so important to the community. And they represent us, now that's the joke.

Re: Parish Council Meeting this week - bdavies (18th Jul 2014 - 12:25:45) Anyone would think from this thread that a parish Council member is not allowed to have an opinion and lead the charge on opposition. Thats utter nonsense! Parish Councils all over England oppose planning applications. And there is no statistical evidence that upholds the Bohunt application by majority; if anything Bohunt is considered to be the least favoured owing to its SDNP status. The SDNP will have the final say and no-one else. The fact that some members of the PC are heading opposition is not breaking any rules. A Ryan et al, if you are pro the Bohunt application then set up your own campaign group to push it along, no-one is going to stop you; you may even get some funding from GVI. Anyone against the Chicken Farm application is also at liberty to set up a group or campaign to oppose it.

Re: Parish Council Meeting this week - Kat (18th Jul 2014 - 14:33:19) Nobody minds opposition, but councillors have not been honest, open, and transparent over their position regarding their opposition to Bohunt development when considering one of a number of applications. This important when they are making decisions which are important to the community and peoples lives. I understand that Councillor Kirby, the Chairman of the Planning Committee, is a member of the Bohunt Group. She and any of the other councillors should have made it clear that was the case at the start of the meeting. They had no interest or intention in listening to the public, and if the Herald is correct councillors themselves may have been mislead over some of the details. The arrogance is staggering let alone the bias or perceived bias.

Re: Parish Council Meeting this week - A. Ryan (18th Jul 2014 - 14:40:56) bdavies, you are missing the point. I am not pro the Bohunt development, rather I personally feel it is the lesser evil compared to other applications. I have absolutely no agenda towards the Bohunt site, I do not know the developers or any of the Councillors. I went to both the Chiltlee meeting and the recent LIPS exhibition and their was an overwhelming group of people for the Bohunt site and opposition for houses at Chiltlee . Since these meetings I have come across many more in favour of Bohunt. Surely Councillors are there to put forward public opinion and parishioners thoughts and ideas and not to create websites to oppose something they don't like. As this end of the village is "set up" with shops, supermarket and station it makes more sense to put houses close to these facilities. If I hear one more time "it's in the National Park " I'll scream!!

Re: Parish Council Meeting this week - bdavies (18th Jul 2014 - 15:00:01) The Herald reported this? Says it all really as they are GVI's biggest cheerleaders - speaking of Bias. When we witness a community newspaper often basing it's front page lead on the ruminations of its fully paid-up sponsors then you have to question its motives and ultimately who is really behind the reporting. In this case some of us seem to have been taken in by the guff and don't you think that, based upon past examples of this, if the company wanting to build on the chicken farm approached them with an equally compelling incentive they'd be writing fervently about that application as well?

Re: Parish Council Meeting this week - bdavies (18th Jul 2014 - 15:03:08) Scream on - it is and that is a key factor in all of this!

Re: Parish Council Meeting this week - Councillor B Easton (18th Jul 2014 - 15:56:32) Dear Kat, I do not know if you took that from the Bramshott and Liphook PC website or not but the Code of conduct changed over a year ago. A parish councillor now only legally has to declare a pecuniary interest, which unless I have shares in GVI is not relevant to me or other Parish Councillors looking at Planning Applications. The District Council are the planning authority, not the Parish Council. Perhaps by not coming to our meetings, and writing articles for your newspaper vicariously, you feel entitled to comment, we can always make the press table bigger.

Re: Parish Council Meeting this week - Annoyed (18th Jul 2014 - 16:35:33) I knew it wouldn't be long before The Herald got the blame. The report is extremely accurate. Bottom line, the parish council did/are not paying any attention to the local people who bothered to come out to put their sticker on their preferred development location. Why did we even bother. The decision regarding the Chiltley Farm development appears to have been made before the meeting on Monday. The verdict made on Monday night does not reflect the views of the parish, regardless of which councillors do or don't want the Bohunt scheme. They are supposed to be our voice. Unfortunately they appear to prefer the sound of their own.

Re: Parish Council Meeting this week - SOS Bohunt Manor Community Action Group (18th Jul 2014 - 16:43:07) Kat We can confirm that Councillor Kirby, the Chairman of the BLPC Planning Committee, is not a member of the SOS Bohunt Manor Community Action Group. From the Post from Councillor Easton on the Talkback Web site it appears that you are an employee of one of our local newspapers. I am more than happy to meet up with you to discuss the aims and objectives of the SOS Bohunt Manor Community Web Site so that you are fully aware of the facts concerning our Group. Could you let me know your full name and contact details. I look forward to our meeting. Regards Roger Miller Chairman SOS Bohunt Community Action Group support@bohuntmanor.co.uk

Re: Parish Council Meeting this week - Peter R (18th Jul 2014 - 18:21:27) I fully endorse Annoyed’s posting – it was short and to the point. The parish councillors are not paying attention to a large majority of its constituents. Annoyed is quite right in that the majority of stickers at the recent public meeting called to enable parishoners to incidate their preferred sites for development were placed on the Bohunt Manor Frontage land. The proposed site for development on the Chiltley Lane Chicken Farm is a joke, though not a laughable one. The accesses alone should spell out to any thinking councillor that this is not a suitable site for housing. We all know that the the Bohunt Manor Frontage land is in the SDNP. It is being proclaimed from the treetops!! However being in the SDNP does not preclude any development. Building can take place within the National Park the only difference being that the decision rests with the SDNP and not EHDC. With regard to parish councillors having a vested interest for whatever reason in NOT wanting development on Bohunt Manor Frontage Land, it is true that only pecuniary interests have to be declared, but there is a moral issue here. It is fine to have an opinion but not when it is so strong that sensible and well balanced judgment is over-ridden as was demonstrated at the Parish Council meeting on Monday regarding the vote of “No Objection” to the development at Chiltley Lane Chicken Farm. This parish council really is the “lunatics running the asylum.”

Re: Parish Council Meeting this week - Cllr Jane Ives (18th Jul 2014 - 18:33:19) The issue of where to build houses is always going to be contentious. There is no doubt that at the public meeting held this time last year many residents opposed housing at Bohunt Manor but of course since then there have been many other suggested housing sites. I'm sure there are probably as many residents that objected to that one that would also now be objecting to the chicken farm application if another public meeting was held. I'm a Parish Councillor but also a resident so I have my own views on where housing should or shouldn't be built. My views expressed here are my personal views. As well as being a Parish Councillor I am a member of the Bohunt Manor Community Action Group and the majority of the people on the committee are not parish councillors. I am quite happy to say publicly that I do oppose development on Bohunt Manor primarily because it is part of the National Park and I feel it would be a great shame to Liphook if we lost that valuable piece of land to housing. I also tend to agree that the chicken farm is not ideal for lots of other reasons. I rather suspect that most of us would rather there were no additional large housing estates built here but we have no choice in taking at least an additional 175 houses. I think we're stuck between a rock and a hard place! However for the record I am not, nor have ever been, on the Planning Committee therefore I have no vote I n planning matters. I cannot speak for any other parish councillors other than to say that there are most likely a number of different views amongst councillors as you would expect in any democratically elected body. Everyone is entitled to their opinion and I completely respect anyone with a different view to my own. At the end of the day the parish council has no real say in planning matters as it will be EHDC or the SDNP who will make the final decision. Anyone is entitled to set up their own action group for or against any planning application. I do hope that when these planning applications are submitted (obviously the chicken farm already has) residents will take the opportunity to have their say and I hope those who feel strongly do just that.

Re: Parish Council Meeting this week - Kat (18th Jul 2014 - 19:00:42) bdavies I find your notion concerning the Herald and GVI to be absurd. I should think the Herald might have something to say about that probably through their solicitors. Councillor B Easton Yes it was from the Council web site. If the Code of Conduct changed a year ago then your regulations are out of date and so is your website. We can only go on what you publish, and if its wrong we use the wrong information. Very unprofessional in my view but only to be expected. The Website Working Party have obviously not had any secret meetings recently so nobody knows everything is out of date, not even the Chairman of the Council, who is a member of that Working Party. Or perhaps that information is out of date as well. I am not a journalist, or a reporter, and I certainly do not work for a newspaper. You obviously know something I don\'t. Please let me know what newspaper I work for as I am absolutely fascinated by your statement. If you make the press table bigger you will be wasting your time, and space. There seems to be some phobia going on about the Herald. Roger Miller SOS Bohunt Community Action Group Did not think it would be long before you posted. Thank you for letting me know that Councillor Kirby is not a member of your group. My understanding was wrong and I apologise for any offence that may have caused Councillor Kirby or yourselves. Thank you for your second offer to meet. As I have said before to you, thank you but no thank you. I will make up my own mind based on what I research and have done so in the past to my entire satisfaction. I can read what I want on your website. Sad that we have to hear from you rather than the Parish Council. Says it all really, but I know that you have connections with councillors through other Parish organisations. You were talking about the Council and staff at the Links Hotel when we were having lunch. Loose talk is dangerous and walls have ears. Councillor Easton is entirely wrong. She did not say that I was an employee, nor that it was a local newspaper. I am sorry to disappoint you and, your colleagues, and friends, but those are incorrect assumptions. Bottom line is what Annoyed said. The Parish Council is not reflecting the views of the public, they are not listening, they are not a voice for us voters, and they continue to decide things behind closed doors in what many believe is an undemocratic and very questionable manner.

Re: Parish Council Meeting this week - Michael (18th Jul 2014 - 20:22:30) When is the next election for the PARISH COUNCIL

Re: Parish Council Meeting this week - sjenner (19th Jul 2014 - 04:55:30) I wonder if this thread would even exist if the Chicken Farm application had not been put forward? A lot of residents on the Chicken Farm side of town would obviously prefer a major housing scheme to be established as far away from them as possible so this goes beyond the so called infrastructure \'extras\' that the Bohunt scheme that we have all been fooled into thinking is being offered so generously. And remind us again what this infrastructure is? A medical centre that neither of the current practices seems to want (it would have been built ages ago if they were that desperate) and set aside for a football pavilion and pitches? That ain\'t infrastructure in my opinion. Who is going to fund and build the pavilion anyway? Both applications are speculative and instead of fighting each other we should coming together to oppose them both as both are going to have a profound adverse impact on Liphook. As for the Herald, it would be the same as the Sun newspaper trying deny that it exercises political influence over the public. No-one would believe them based on the articles that they have published and the tone and manner in which they are published. The few of us that read the Herald can see it a mile off. What has driven them now to give over a full front page to the Chiltley Farm group but not a word mentioned when the Bohunt Action Group was established? No sensible lawyer would take the case.

Re: Parish Council Meeting this week - Kat (19th Jul 2014 - 10:33:10) The Parish Council elections are next year in May. Very interesting comment from Councillor Ives, thank you. "..I am a member of the Bohunt Manor Community Action Group and the majority of the people on the committee are not parish councillors". That implies that some parish councillors are on the committee of the action group not just members. No doubt all will be revealed in due course. I don\'t think development will be stopped just because people oppose it, and certainly not until the planning laws change. As to the Herald, the reporter obviously witnessed the disdain and disregard by the Parish Council of those attending the meeting. It wasn't a full front page just the lead article. Apart from the excellent article about Bohunt, there was also a small bit on Mr Michael Mates and his damages and apology. Funnily enough, I read about that in my Sunday Times last week which said the criminal investigation was launched against Mr Mates following a complaint made by his rival, Don Jerrard, standing for the Justice & Anti Corruption Party. What a complete and utter waste of time and taxpayers money that was.

Re: Parish Council Meeting this week - Val (19th Jul 2014 - 12:50:04) In answer to sjenner's post, could the reason why the front page of The Herald featured an article about the recent Parish Council Meeting was because it was NEWS! That is what newspapers do in order to sell their papers. Their front page is not an advertising site for the founding on new Action Groups however justified they may be. I feel very exasperated when I read the small minded and inaccurate criticisms which are contained in some of these posts about The Herald and its reporting. For my part I find their articles informative and accurate having been to some of the meetings that subsequently feature in articles. When I read the comments on Liphook Talkback I really wonder if those people have been to the same meeting!! Annoyed's posting is "spot on".

Re: Parish Council Meeting this week - sjenner (20th Jul 2014 - 04:44:16) Val, I have attended all of the meetings relevant to the building applications and I am passionate that the expansion of Liphook is thought through carefully so that our community is not short changed. I am also fairly confident that the NHS will not be funding the building of a medical centre on Bohunt Manor frontage land. I think that all of our collective concerns about the whole question of where the extra housing provision will be made need to be asserted in the spirit of collaboration as public bickering will only serve to frustrate an unbiased and judicial planning process which includes the need for properly and firmly funded infrastructure. Maybe the leaders of the two current action groups should approach each other and work together to help ensure this.

Re: Parish Council Meeting this week - Peter R (21st Jul 2014 - 14:28:51) Sjenner no one is disputing the fact that you are passionate about the expansion of Liphook and that it should be thought through carefully so that the community is not short changed, but I and others do take issue with your inaccurate, biased and oblique criticisms about The Herald’s reporting. I attend meetings regularly and the reports in The Herald are always accurate and give a very fair picture of the events which took place.

Re: Parish Council Meeting this week - liz (21st Jul 2014 - 15:42:19) Peter R After reading the Herald for more years than I care to mention, I stopped buying it about a year ago due to inaccurate reporting and what appeared to be a pro-development bias (which some may think is not a bad thing of course!) It is not the job of newspaper to be unbiased I know, but it appeared to have lost touch with the views of the majority of residents. - I haven't missed it and from what I read on here I'm not inclined to go back!

Re: Parish Council Meeting this week - Andy (21st Jul 2014 - 15:51:36) Our Parish Councillors are doing a good job in my view. The recent EHDC-organised 'Consultation' was a disappointing waste of time and opportunity. It was listed for 'Residents' so I took my council tax bill with me (to show that I was indeed a resident) but I needn't have bothered: there were clearly non-residents in the room (probably estate agent types) and who placed stickers. And I am reliably told that multiple stickers were being applied... There seems to be, from what was reported, a lack of appreciation by a EHDC councillor that the South Downs National Park has arrived, and has been in existence for some years now. This unavoidably brings statutory National Park laws and policies as to how the South Downs National Park including our part of it, will be used; mass housing for example is not allowed (as opposed to employment-linked, affordables, holiday lettings). So what the point was in inviting Liphook residents to sticker all 175-units within our part of the South Downs National Park quite defeats me. An appreciation of the provisions of the EHDC/SDNPA Joint Core Strategy, the Local Plan and the SDNPA statutory policies and objectives is fairly essential for this work in my view; in the meantime adverse comments about our parish councillors seem to me unhelpful and discourteous.

Re: Parish Council Meeting this week - Kat (21st Jul 2014 - 17:46:56) Andy I am very sorry but I disagree. Our Parish Councillors are not doing a good job, particular with regard to the meeting last week which is what this post is about. They didn't listen to or reflect the views of the people at the meeting, and they are not acting as a voice for the community. They clearly decided on the planning application in secret behind closed doors and that approach, is highly questionable.

Re: Parish Council Meeting this week - Val (22nd Jul 2014 - 09:14:36) With the greatest respect Liz in my opinion it is you and BLPC that have lost touch with the views of the majority of Liphook Residents, not The Herald. Were you at the meeting on Monday when the views of the majority were ignored regarding the application to build on Chitlley Lane Chicken Farm land? Back to The Herald could you please give me one example of mis-reporting, mis-statements or inaccuraces of any meeting reported by The Herald. I realise that an example will have to have taken place a year ago as you don't read The Herald anymore, but that will do. I have been to most meetings and I keep the press cuttings. Really interested to know.

Re: Parish Council Meeting this week - liz (22nd Jul 2014 - 09:39:15) Val You say that the views of the majority of residents were ignored at the meeting on Monday - I suggest this was by no means a representative group despite what you might read in the press. I have lived in and around the village for a long time and know a fair cross section of people and the majority of people I speak to (not all of course) are against the development of Bohunt. As an aside, I must say that I have been surprised by how few people know exactly where the chicken farm is (!) - so perhaps that's the best place for the development - rather than on our hard won extension to the National Park.

Re: Parish Council Meeting this week - A. Ryan (22nd Jul 2014 - 11:37:58) To some of the poster's on here, did you go to the same consultation as the rest of us. I talked to quite a few residents and the overwhelming feeling was the Bohunt site would be best for Liphook. Who were these "estate agents" characters and out of townies? No one was there putting out their own agenda, in fact no one really had a clue as to what was going on and we all made our own decisions. A development there would not affect anyone and the village is set up there with the shops and station. To cram 100 houses in the chicken farm is preposterous and will turn the Berg estate into a huge housing area. To all the walkers and people using this rural lane it will be a sad day for them. Did anyone also take into account that more cars will be coming from the estate having to travel over the railway bridge and into the center of the village? If the Save Bohunt faction group had a very good reason to be against this development it would be different, but these fields are in the best position. Why people think we have had access to this land, I don't know as it was like any other Manor, private land. As to what agenda the SOS group have I really do not know but slating the Herald just goes to show the depths some people will go. I have always enjoyed reading the paper and have found it fair. For those of you that have been in the village a long time you will have seen many housing estates go up since the fifties and some of you may live in them. Houses went up then and they will go up now and in the future. We are not the small village any more and have not been for a long time. So these people should just have a bit more foresight into what really is best for the village.

Re: Parish Council Meeting this week - liz (22nd Jul 2014 - 12:38:37) A. Ryan. You seem to imply that your 'foresight' is better than others, well that's as maybe. There are pros and cons for all the sites. As for me I do not belong to any action group and gave up reading the Herald over a year ago as it seemed so out of touch with the views of the people of Liphook. I have no idea how accurate it is now as I do not read it. I just wonder why the Berg should be singled out not to become a larger development when it seems not to matter elsewhere? Many sites have access issues and this has been largely disregarded elsewhere. (Of note: the Sainsbury's development and the huge but quite predictable increase in traffic, including lorries, through the Square)

Re: Parish Council Meeting this week - Karen (22nd Jul 2014 - 12:53:46) Ah well Liz, there's the problem. You don't know where the chicken farm is because its so far away from the village centre. It's a good old 20 to 25 minute trek by foot if you fancy it, or of course you could jump in your car and head on out to this side of the village, cos that's what everyone who lives on the proposed development will be doing. Bringing lots of extra traffic through Liphook...as that's pretty much the only way you can get anywhere else...I think the people who voted to build on the Lowsley site or Bohunt land have probably realised this and considered these locations more viable. Do we not think that the South side of the village is not busy enough already in terms of traffic movement.... Sainsburys, Sainsburys estate, new extension to Sainsburys estate, Gunns Farm, The Berg. I would quite like to hear the parish council's reasons for thinking that building on the chicken farm site is a good idea, other than the fact it's not Bohunt.

Re: Parish Council Meeting this week - liz (22nd Jul 2014 - 13:55:35) Karen I know where the chicken farm is and you certainly can't miss it when you come into Liphook by train - hence the reason I was surprised many people didn't know where it was.

Re: Parish Council Meeting this week - ellie (22nd Jul 2014 - 14:46:05) Wherever new houses are built in Liphook, it will generate traffic to access the North, it is ridiculous to think that if houses were built on Bohunt the residents from there would not drive through Liphook. Why on earth do people choose to live on the Berg if it is so far away from everything. A new estate behind is only adding 5 mins to the walking period currently enjoyed by residents of the Berg, who of course all walk into Liphook. I know personally someone who lives on the Millennium Green side of the Sainsburys development who gets the car out just to visit Sainsburys, and it is not just to buy petrol!

Re: Parish Council Meeting this week - claire (22nd Jul 2014 - 18:43:03) I was at the meeting , the reasoning for both sides were well presented by the councillors. lets face it , no one would choose to have a development on their doorstep ( I was quite surprised just how much space for housing has to be found to meet government expectations) I guess being a councillor is a pretty thankless . task , yr always going to be unpopular with someone. I was amazed by the rudeness of some people who attended , I dared to offer some relevant insight into the sector which I work in with regard to a planning application and had a rather overbearing intimidating man wagging his finger at me and shouting. I don't think I will be a regular at these occasions!!

Re: Parish Council Meeting this week - Val (22nd Jul 2014 - 18:43:52) Liz I also speak to a great many people on Liphook and the majority think that the Bohunt Manor Frontage Land is the best option. These 175 houses will have to be built somehwere. There will still remain many, many acres of Bohunt land for the benefit of wildlife which will not be touched or changed. Also I am still waiting for an example of mis-reporting of any meeting by The Herald which was attended by the public - please back up your very unfair accusations with proof. I have resurrected all my press cuttings! So have the courage to back up your statements.

Re: Parish Council Meeting this week - liz (23rd Jul 2014 - 09:21:58) Val I'm afraid I don't keep press cuttings. (Didn't know anyone did nowadays!) My memory is good and quite frankly if people don't believe me that is their perogative and not my concern. All I can say is that you really must know "a great many" of the 8000+ people in Liphook if you can be so sure that the majority are in favour of the Bohunt development! Perhaps there should be a vote- but perhaps this time, perish the thought, it could even be advertised in advance - then that could truly be described in the Herald as representative. It won't make any difference though, the planners decide using other criteria.

Re: Parish Council Meeting this week - Val (23rd Jul 2014 - 12:01:55) What a pity Liz that you cannot "put your money where your mouth is". It is easy to make allegations and criticisms, but quite another matter to back them up. You obviously cannot come up with any evidence of mis-reporting by The Herald re: local meetings. Shame on you.

Re: Parish Council Meeting this week - liz (23rd Jul 2014 - 12:15:32) Val As I said you can take my word for it or not. Not surprisingly, like most people, I do not have time to go back through Heralds of a year or more old -even if I had access- so there is no "shame on me" for refusing your unrealistic request.

Re: Parish Council Meeting this week - Bill Ratcliffe (23rd Jul 2014 - 12:25:03) It is a bit of a puzzle that people who object to developments and houses being built are often living in houses that were once themselves considered 'development'. It is also noticeable how that the 'Not In MY Backyard' arguments are wrapped up in traffic, water, sewage, access, schools and infrastructure etc arguments, all of which have to be resolved to a legal standard before the planners give permission. It appears that no one argues with the fact that more housing is required in general, therefore the houses have to be built somewhere. I am sure that most of us would like to live in an ideal Cotswold village, but the reality is that the demand for housing is greater than the current supply. Whatever happened to the Bordon Eco Town - surely that would have removed the requirement for any new houses in Liphook

Re: Parish Council Meeting this week - Peter R (23rd Jul 2014 - 15:56:40) I think that the fact that Liz keeps press cuttings is irrelevant. I know that if I lodged an accusation about anything or anyone I would actually remember what the accusation was. It is fairly important to be sure of your facts when making accusations – certainly it is not something to be done lightly nor would you would forget unless the accusation itself was unfounded and without substance. Think before you post.

Re: Parish Council Meeting this week - liz (23rd Jul 2014 - 16:28:17) Actually it's Val who keeps press cuttings not me - think before you post as you so rightly say. I didn't realise I had to keep detailed records if I dared to suggest that our local paper might not be 100% accurate - perhaps you better tell all the other posters on this site who have done likewise over the years! You can track down the comments if you have the time to waste. The paper has even been accused of plagiarism from this site - heaven forbid! Accuracy or not, we are getting a long way off the point for this post.

Re: Parish Council Meeting this week - heather m (23rd Jul 2014 - 16:48:13) Good grief . Some people have far too much time on their hands I think . Instead of moaning & bickering like kids, why don't you all go outside & play nicely (and enjoy the sunshine ! )

Re: Parish Council Meeting this week - Kevin Jackson (24th Jul 2014 - 11:43:37) OK Liz so Peter R got two names muddled big deal. Now! You however have made and are making serious accusations about the integrity of The Herald and its reporters. Don't try to muddy the waters with silly digs about people keeping press cuttings. In my opinion if one makes a serious allegation or accusation one could at least have the decency to remember what it was. So either put up or shut up! I agree that these postings including mine are way off the content of this Thread, but I feel very strongly about people who make glib accusations and then fail to back them up with substance. However enough said and we should not get back to the main point of The Thread which is - are members of BLPC interpreting the wishes of its electorate when it comes to development in Liphook?

Re: Parish Council Meeting this week - liz (24th Jul 2014 - 14:27:11) Kevin I think you need to get a sense of proportion and listen to Heather, failing that perhaps read the thread. All I actually said was I had stopped reading the Herald some time ago due to inaccurate reporting (and I did not say in relation to what) and what appeared to be a pro-development bias. That is hardly a "serious allegation" and does not in any way attack the integrity of its reporters. Since when did reporters not have their own ideas/bias?! Isn't that what makes people choose between the Telegraph and the Guardian for example? I also didn't say that I had forgotten about it - in fact I said the opposite, that my memory is good. It seems however that I have upset a number of people who have suddenly realised that there are planning issues in Liphook and are now very pro-development at Bohunt - in fact anywhere other than the Chicken Farm.

Re: Parish Council Meeting this week - Kevin Jackson (24th Jul 2014 - 15:26:39) Liz perhaps you should listen Heather. Pot and Kettle spring to mind. If your memory is so good, please give one example of inaccurate reporting by The Herald and my request has absolutely nothing to do with the Chicken Farm. Please don't muddy the waters.

Re: Parish Council Meeting this week - Kat (4th Aug 2014 - 19:23:10) We are still waiting to be told which councillors were on the SOS Bohunt Group. Councillor Ives has told us she was not, on this site, and Mr Miller told us Councillor Kirby wasn't. So which councillors were members of the group when planning decisions were made, some of them, as we know,behind closed doors. Is this going to remain a secret or be hidden under the carpet or like the speed signs are we going to be told by a member of the public, who is actually a Parish Councillor?

Re: Parish Council Meeting this week - Jane Ives (4th Aug 2014 - 22:33:22) Kat If you have a look at my earlier post you will see that what I actually said was that I am a member of the SOS Bohunt Manor Community Action Group but that I am not, nor ever have been, on the Parish Council Planning Committee. You have also asked which councillors were members of this group when planning deciding were made.... No planning decisions have been made about housing on Bohunt Manor as no planning application has yet been received. I hope this now answers your question.

Re: Parish Council Meeting this week - Kat (4th Aug 2014 - 23:17:30) Jane Ives Yes I agree you said you were. The question remains unanswered, apart from your good self then, but we knew about that before. Still not answered.

Re: Parish Council Meeting this week - Kat (22nd Aug 2014 - 09:51:27) Still no answers! Come on councillors, who were the members of your Council that were members of the SOS Bohunt Action Group?

Re: Parish Council Meeting this week - Dawn Hoskins (3rd Feb 2015 - 16:00:27) Time and again, I have heard that ‘The Parish Council’ ‘want’ or are ‘in favour’ this site. That is complete nonsense spoken by people who simply do not understand the planning constraints that councillors must work under. In areas which are inside an area of sustainable development (Liphook) there is an automatic presumption to build. This is not something that is dreamed up by Parish Councillors, but a policy from Central Government. The presumption to build is rebuttable only if certain (but few) objections can be matched to the application. If there is no matching objection that can be made to stick – then the Parish council have no choice. They are entirely hamstrung by policy. They can’t object for the sake of objecting. It would be great if there was a box to tick on the objections list that said: Liphook is full; Liphook does not have the infrastructure to cope……etc. It doesn't, it can’t and it won’t. You may not like, or understand these provisions, but to put in simple terms, if the answer is yes (to the questions listed below) -you can’t object. All the Parish Council has the power to do is place ‘Conditions’ on the application to cover the concerns that have. Which they did do. The Conditions placed are that ‘developer contributions’ must pay for the required improvements to the Midhurst Road railway bridge and the safety issues thereon; that ‘Public Open Space’ must be provided in the form of allotments; that the developer remove all the Japanese Knotweed; that the developer must try to provide additional on-site parking spaces. I have looked with great interest at this as it has rolled on with ill-informed allegations being made against the Parish Council that they are not acting in the Parishioners best interests etc – but – please at least try to understand what the rules are before you complain that they have been broken. If you are dealt a hand full of bad cards all you can do is play the best you have – even though it is still a low scorer! We, as parish, and whether we like it or not are going to have hundreds of homes thrust upon us, because central government said so (Not because our Parish Councillors are doing a bad job). So all the Parish can do is look at all the cards in the rubbish hand they have been dealt by the various developers and decide which is the least bad. Is this an area of sustainable settlement? Yes Does the site have adequate access? Yes Does the application provide adequate car parking provision. Yes Have Hampshire County council approved road access? Yes Is the site outside of a registered flood zone? Yes Does the number of affordable homes match the number of private residences? Yes Is the application accord with current housing allocation needs? Yes Is the application high, medium or low density compared to surrounding areas? Low Does the application accord with the National Planning Framework guidelines? Yes Can the Parish Council object to this proposal under the planning rules..........No What can you do about it? Write to your member of Parliament, write to head of EHDC, attend planning meetings at Penns Place. You can campaign against the rules, but slagging off the Parish Council is wrong, misguided, unwarranted and just plain silly. It's like shooting the messenger because you don't like the message! Learn what the rules are - then protest to the rule makers.

Re: Parish Council Meeting this week - Thomas R (4th Feb 2015 - 15:17:09) Quote from earlier post on this thread by "Kat": "As I have said before to you, thank you but no thank you. I will make up my own mind based on what I research and have done so in the past to my entire satisfaction." A typical armchair pundit then, with nothing to say but everything to hide.

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