Council objects to 49 new homes for Three Mile Cross

SHINFIELD Parish Council has objected to plans for 49 new homes on open countryside in Three Mile Cross.

The new houses are planned land west of Kingfisher Grove, next to the often congested A33 Basingstoke Road.

A spokesperson for the parish council said they are concerned the development “would close the gap between Three Mile Cross and SpencersWood” and go against the neighbourhood plan for Shinfield.

Three Mile Cross resident Kathryn Devlin said she was concerned about the lack of infrastructure to support the influx of new homes.

Commenting on the plans, Ms Devlin said: “There is absolutely no need for these new applications, 42 here, 32 on another application and a further 34 on another application.

“What about the infrastructure of this small village? I can only imagine the traffic issues becoming completely unbearable, we're nearly at that point nowwithout the extra 100 houses being built.”

And Basingstoke Road resident, Frances Lancasterwas also concerned about the traffic and congestion.

She said: “Roads are at capacity in the morning with people already having to add additional time to their journeys. We have enough housing being built that is empty, we don't need more.”

Three Mile Cross resident, Ben Dickinson added: “Morning rush hour onto the A33 already takes upwards of 30 minutes, and yet with no more infrastructure in place the village simply cannot accommodate further housing. Other services are also already stretched.

“Proportionately the village environment has been eroded for too long as this has to stop.”

Basingstoke road resident, Trevor Seach, said: “Historically, development particularlywithin SpencersWood has always been contained to the east of the A33 which has been the natural barrier.

“What remains of the green dividing strip between the Basingstoke Road, Swallowfield bypass and between the villages must be defended at all costs. If further compromised it will soon all be lost.”

Cllr Jim Frewin, independent councillor for Shinfield South, said: “The local GP, hospital and schools are under stress with the recent community growth.

“For example, GP services at the Swallowfield surgery that covers this application area is running at nearly twice the national average of patient to GP ratio.”

Consultation for the plans has now closed and a decision will be made soon.