Battle to preserve Hampden Fields is three-pronged

Map showing where Hampden Fields will be located in Aylesbury PNL-160216-133442001

The Hampden Fields Action Group is using three lines of attack against developers the Hampden Fields Consortium which is made up of Aylesbury College, Taylor Wimpey and the Fairfield Partnership.

It wants to build 3,000 homes, two schools and a link road on the site between Bedgrove and Weston Turville. Interested parties have until April 14 to comment on on the application to Aylesbury Vale District Council.

The previous proposal was thrown out by a government planning inspector last year, but the new scheme includes a Southern Link Road which the consortium claims will help traffic flow better in the town.

Hampden Fields Action Group chairman Chris Webbley says that he is confident that his group will have the maximum possible impact on the proposal.

He said: “It’s going well, there are three main streams of what we are doing.

“The first is scrutiny, we have hired planning and transport consultants who have found significant weaknesses.

“They are required by law to give an objective assesment and they have said that there are weaknesses in the developemnts traffic and planning proposals.

“The second is engagement, to speak with and engage local residents in the affected areas to see what they think.

“So far we have had over 3,000 objections on a petitition and this will be delivered to the council next week.

“On Saturday we stood in Jansel Square and spoke to around 100 people.

“People weren’t just saying they didn’t want this built on green fields, they were saying that the infrastructure just wasn’t there.

“We think that people are being quite measured and thoughtful about this and for that reason their objections should be given extra weight.”

And the third line of attack the group is using is lobbying.

Mr Webbley said: “We have spoken to the MP and district councillors and in both  cases what people are saying is that there needs to be a coherant plan in the Vale of Aylesbury.”

On March 17 the group held a public meeting at  Weston Turvile Village Hall which was attended by 200 people.

Weston Turvile Parish Council has also voted to oppose the plan.