Big thank you to all those Upham residents who turned out last night to make our voice heard so literally. Well done everybody! Eastleigh Councillors can’t have had a clearer impression of the strength of opposition from the numbers who showed up, despite having arranged for this meeting to be next door to the big t20 match. They were clearly shaken.
In fact we learned only at the half way break how significant a climbdown Eastleigh had made in the cabinet meeting while we were all arriving, following a very powerful letter from the Winchester leader and our QC’s advice delivered to them yesterday. The revised resolution came out too late to be given to us the mere public, although we can see no reason why it was not read out beforehand.
Keith House was looking to significantly move the local plan forward last night and instead went backwards, so we achieved a very significant result. However we still have a lot of persuading to do yet. Those of you who stayed until the end will have heard him say ‘if not B and C, we will need to consider C and E’. Having earlier said that C was only possible with the road, this will be a huge challenge for him to justify in planning terms, but watch this space!
Thanks again
David Ashe
Chairman, Upham Parish Council
