Anstey Residents Group Have Your Say

There's nothing better than a good debate, so feel free to air your views by posting a comment. (ARG is not responsible for the views expressed on this page. In addition, the Committee would like to remind our 'posters' that they should attempt to be moderate in their language and avoid any comments that might be construed as being offensive.)

No.	Date Posted	Posted By	Comment
1042	Sat 19 May 2012, 14:42	Crispin Brake	In addition, the 'reconfiguring' of Jubilee Playing Fields is a worrying aspect. In a nutshell they want to build houses on the Astro Turf area and tennis clubs (both land owned by the council) and move it onto Jubilee (owned by the council). The proposed 'open public space' is chucked on poorly accessible hillside and not much use to anyone. Looks like another of Alton's Open Spaces is under threat. Does anyone know the council's stand on this matter?
1041	Sat 19 May 2012, 10:52	Charlie Brake	The proposal for the South Alton development is being exhibited this morning at the Assembly Rooms. For those who don't get a chance to visit, pretty much all the detail can be found at http://southalton.com/ I visited last night, and I felt it was pretty sketchy on detail, most of the space was given over to the proposed changes to the Butts roundabout and the new sports centre, very little mention indeed of the 550 homes. Although it is still at a very early stage, I felt that the proposals were poorly thought out; the new roundabout cut off Winchester road from direct access, demolished the bridge on the Basingstoke road, replacing it with a modern wider bridge (I overheard one of the developers say "You can't tell me it’s an attractive bridge", I begged to differ, especially when you consider a historical 19th century brick bridge, telling part of the story of Alton’s development to what the modern alternative would be!)and created an additional roundabout towards the bypass, feeding the leisure centre, Travis Perkins and Winchester road to the left, and 250 new houses to the right. The new sports centre is nothing more than a concept, as the decision rests with EHDC. Even so, a large proportion of the display is filled with glossy photos of another sports centre, and a side note that this "could" be what we get.... There was very little on the 550 new homes, except a picture of some development, and a mention that "The economic downturn has meant that the delivery of housing in Alton in recent years has been slow." as if that justified a new development, rather than the fact housing stock is not being replaced because people can't afford it, and developers won't make enough money! In all, I was pretty disappointed with the proposal, which I thought offered little consideration for Alton, and its environment. It seemed to me, you could have taken the proposal and plonked it in any small town in the UK. In fact, on reflection, I think that’s what the developers have done!
1040	Fri 11 May 2012, 08:17	Greg	All agreed Tony but a shame that Tesco's isn't going to include a petrol station.
1039	Sun 22 Apr 2012, 13:06	Tony	I think that some of the concern simply centres around getting another large supermarket into Alton to challenge the present monopoly. We also desperately need another source of petrol & diesel: there is an alarming disparity in fuel pricing in the area and a whiff of profiteering with the present set-up. Petrol in Petersfield is 3p a litre less than in Alton and I get the feeling that Altonians are being ripped-off by our present suppliers.
1038	Sat 21 Apr 2012, 08:13	Greg	Why the perpetual fascination on when Tesco might finally build their new store in Alton? Surely the longer it takes, the more time there is to work-up and deliver any projects that might be funded by the Tesco dosh? If people think that these projects can be delivered in a flash, then they don't live in the same world that I do! Sorry!
1037	Wed 18 Apr 2012, 12:24	Peter	Oh dear, the news wasn't good on tesco today. Will they ever get to Alton I wonder. They did say they 'could' start building in 2013 - not promising if you ask me... What news on Coors ? Do our trusty committee have anything to report?
1036	Tue 27 Mar 2012, 17:16	ARG	The Government's planning reforms have been announced by Planning Minister Greg Clark. See 'News' for a summary
1035	Sat 25 Feb 2012, 09:54	ARG	Simon, it's interesting that you should raise this issue. It's not a new stance by the Alton Society and we have had a number of discussions with them prior to the publication of this latest newsletter in an effort to get them to see the error of their ways and encourage them to adopt a different position. More recently we have written to express disappointment with their policy and we have received a reply that signals no change to their stated position. ARG does not support the AS position on Anstey Park or the Coors sports ground and if you feel strongly about the matter, as we do, we would encourage you to take it up with the Alton Society.
1034	Sat 25 Feb 2012, 09:23	Simon	Just found the following in latest Alton Society ... Alton Society Newsletter – winter 2011-2012…. Junior Football Hub, Anstey Park (33615). We have held meetings with both Anstey Residents’ Group (ARG) and with Coors to discuss our stance on both the football hub and on future plans for housing on the Coors sports ground. In summary, we can support a football hub so long as it does not enclose a large area of Anstey Park for what would essentially be ‘private’ use and so long as it does not interrupt the open nature of the park’s landscape. As far as housing on Coors sports ground (30667) is concerned, we are pragmatic enough to recognise that it is likely to happen and we seek to ensure that it is well designed to a tolerable density and good sustainability levels; however our support will be dependent on the prior replacement of an equivalent area of open sports / recreational space. It would be good to know these things first hand please as you are supposed to be our representatives. Can't have us being accused of closed door stuff!
1033	Fri 10 Feb 2012, 14:34	George	Well have you had your letter and questionnaire from Cllr Philips??How do the deprived in Anstey Mill Close and Shipley Close feel about revealing all about their benefits?? Wonder how much EHDC is paying for all this? My letter was posted and I had a stamped address reply envelope!
1032	Thu 9 Feb 2012, 19:57	ARG	We've heard from Discovery Properties that work will begin on the Waitrose store in Station Approach on 20th February. September 2012 is the provisional target for the opening of the new store. More details as we receive them.
1031	Thu 9 Feb 2012, 17:57	Patrick	Could be but I suspect they are just reviewing their new store portfolio in the light of the economic situation. Hopefully, we'll soon have Waitrose up and running as an alternative to Sainsbury's long-running monopoly in the town; something they have royally abused for far too long in my opinion.
1030	Wed 8 Feb 2012, 14:36	Steve	Tesco seem to be very quiet and there doesn't seem to be a lot of activity on the Mill Lane site - it makes me wonder if they are having cold feet (especially after their less than astounding recent financial results)
1029	Fri 23 Dec 2011, 00:05	Bill	Coincidentally, the Prestbury covenant was attached to the land in the 1930s, which is the same decade as the covenant on the Bass sports ground. The developers would have obtained planning permission in normal course, because covenants are legally not "material considerations" when planning applications are being processed. Any battle over a covenant then comes later, being ruled on by a Land Tribunal. In the Prestbury case it was somewhat foolish of the developer to start building before the covenant issue had been decided - they were probably betting that no one would take issue over it. Here, if MC adopt ARG's Covenant Solution, then the issue will not arise.
1028	Thu 22 Dec 2011, 19:22	Hazel	An interesting piece in today's Telegraph where TaylorWimpey had to take down houses and garages in Prestbury, Glos. 'The decision was a triumph for residents who had compaigned to stop the homes from being built on land protected by a historic covenant.' Perhaps the covenant is worth more thn the paper it is written on!
1027	Mon 19 Dec 2011, 14:45	Bill	Well, it's all very quiet, isn't it? I wonder what is going on behind the scenes. My guess is that Molson Coors, along with any other developers, are waiting for the National Planning Policy Framework document to be taken forward into law (sometime in 2012?). If, by all accounts, it is going to make building developments so much easier to achieve, then there is not much point in them doing anything beforehand. So, as we wait, may I take the opportunity to wish everyone a very merry Christmas and a happy New Year!
1026	Sun 6 Nov 2011, 08:52	ARG	Peter, there are presently no discussions taking place with Molson Coors.
1025	Sat 5 Nov 2011, 18:14	John	Peter; see comment 992, this is a long standing issue brought to the attention of ARG that a lot of people both belonging to different community groups and also non-affiliated have invested a lot of time and effort; please do not belittle this initiative to try and make our environment an even nicer place to be!
1024	Sat 5 Nov 2011, 17:17	Peter	Oh that is so clever - I've heard of a smoke screen but not a s--t screen! The Alton Society newlsetter says you are having 'discussions' again with Coors. Don't you think you owe your supporters an explanataion?
1023	Fri 4 Nov 2011, 18:31	ARG	Check out ARG's new Anstey Park initiative on the News tab.