Life will never be the same again if these are built!

VOW held its first Public Meeting on Thursday 29th at the Cross Barn in Odiham. We knew there was interest in the application but we were staggered at the number of people who turned out for the meeting! Almost 200 people filled the Cross Barn, with standing room only and out into the passageway and entrance hall too.

VOW gave a presentation which laid out the scale, scope and impact of the distribution centre – and many people were shocked and horrified at just how much it would impact not just the immediate vicinity but the whole area.

Hampshire County Council Member, Jonathan Glenn, said ‘Life will never be the same again if these are built’ and not in a good way!’

A packed hall for the Villages Oppose Warehouses meeting at Odiham

The audience were shocked to realise the extent of the traffic impact – sixteen HGVs a minute, and just how much this would clog up the whole area from the A33 through to Alton, Farnham and beyond.

As one audience member said ‘This is not just a local issue, this will impact life across Hart in a very disturbing way’.

The audience raised a number of questions about the process and Councillor John Kennet was able to share how the planning process works. Members of the audience also suggested approaching various parts of the local community that the meeting had failed to reach – younger people and those from further afield. These are all great suggestions and ones that we are taking on board immediately.

As such, we are holding another Public Meeting, this time in Hook on 28th March, at the Elizabeth Hall.  Doors open 7pm for presentation at 7.30pm.

In the meantime, we encourage everyone to write to their councillor in their wards to voice their outrage and objections to the proposed distribution centre. 

And donate to our Crowdfunder site (click on enter manual amount to avoid giving them a tip).