Outdoor air quality in WInchester City Centre is being monitored as the government released new air quality objectives.

The effects of poor air quality on the health of individuals has caused concern, particularly for those suffering from lung or heart conditions. 

Two air quality monitoring stations have been placed around Winchester, along with mounted devices measuring particle levels and over forty other receptors across the City’s centre and the district. 

Results will be released over the next few weeks, and an action plan has been drawn up from discussions to improve air quality and reach the targets set.

Eco-town faces Criticism

Application to build a new eco-town in one of Winchester’s districts has caused controversy.

Plans for a major development of 12,500 homes and a self-sustaining community of ‘eco-town’ status has been issued to the Government, to be built around existing railway station in the district of Micheldever.

The new community is one that could be largely self-contained with employment opportunities, and education, shopping and community facilities.

Eagle Star Estates has submitted this application to the Government for their planned ‘eco-town’, with an aim to make 5,000 houses sit in the ‘affordable’ bracket, to meet the demands for cheaper housing.

The town aims to set the standard and be the leader in usage of sustainable technology, such as renewable power technology, and systems to allow for efficient use of water and effective disposal of waste, as well as measures to ensure each house creates zero carbon emissions.

The Leader of Winchester City Council, Cllr George Beckett, expressed astonishment at their application, stating ‘it has already been specifically rejected in the report of the Inspectors’ Panel into the South East Regional Plan that was published just this August’.

The report he was referring to included, ‘Notwithstanding its location and its rail station, it is a remotely rural area with very few facilities for the existing population’.

It is being questioned as to whether Micheldever is the ideal location for such a development as the local road network would not be able to cope with the extra traffic, and there is currently no natural water supply.

The plans have caused the local residents to start campaigning in opposition, as one member of the public states, ‘This would be a disaster for this small rural area’, with another adding, ‘building on a countryside isn’t green, even if a house is zero carbon’.

However, the authorities themselves seem to be of two minds, as the Conservative MPs in Winchester City Council and Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council appear to be on opposite sides of the argument. 

Martin Tod, Lib Dem parliament candidate for Winchester, is urging Cllr George Beckett, leader of Winchester City Council, to take immediate action and sort out this split of opinion, adding; ‘the eco-town proposal will be really bad for the local area’.

Despite this, the project director of the Station Market Town is confident, responding that this is a ‘unique opportunity to help satisfy unmet housing and economic needs’. 

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