Another day - another inappropriate planning application and once again it is unelected bureaucrats in Bristol who will decide.
Prospective Winchester MP Steve Brine is working with residents who are concerned about a plan to replace two bungalows in their cul-de-sac with 12 new properties.
Churchill Close in Kings Worthy is occupied by many elderly and retired tenants and is a quiet narrow street. Earlier this year, councillors at Winchester City Council refused permission for the owner of two properties at one end to build 6 two bed, 4 three bed an 2 four bed chalet bungalows - at a swoop nearly doubling the number of properties in the road.
Steve Brine says; "Residents pleased with the initial decision were dismayed to hear that once again it has now been passed to the unelected 'Planning Inspectorate' in Bristol. They will now make a decision that will have far reaching and long-standing consequences for Churchill Close without making even so much as a passing visit to the site. It is no wonder people feel pushed outside the political process if this is the way we carry on.
"As I said in my letter to the Inspectorate, I am very careful not to object to every application in the constituency because we need new homes and that the residents of Churchill Close I have spoken with are not closed to the idea of development on this site. Their concerns would be largely alleviated if a more sensible and practical access could be explored by the applicant and I would support them 100% in that view."
Steve Brine is pictured at the site on Friday morning with Kings Worthy councillor, Stan Howell.