A FORMER councillor is calling on the county council to build a bridge to allow future Manydown residents to safely access the development's proposed senior school. 

As it stands Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council and Hampshire County Council are the joint owners of a long lease on 2,000 acres at Manydown, with plans to develop the land into garden communities in Western Basingstoke.

The northern part of the land has already been allocated and a new community with more than 3,500 homes with a 250-acre countryside park will be created.

The councils are considering how the land to the south should be developed, but it could see an even larger development with 10,000 homes proposed.

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As previously reported a 164-page public documents pack produced by the county council outlines numerous proposed investments into new schools and refurbishments over the next three years.

A secondary school in Manydown has been listed among potential projects for 2030 onwards.

Sean Dillow, a former borough councillor has launched an online petition calling on the council to build a bridge, so both developments can get access if the senior school is built.

He said: “I'm appealing for clarity, openness, and some forward infrastructure planning from HCC and BDBC. I feel there is a real danger that the provision of a new senior school may not happen unless there is a bridge that crosses the railway line connecting the Manydown North development with the proposed Manydown South Development

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He continued: “The proposed Manydown South development is even larger with circa 10,000 houses planned. Residents in this development will need easy access to a senior school. Unless there is a bridge planned across the railway there is a real danger of the senior school being built in the Manydown South development and not on the prosed area in the North development.

"This would be a travesty for the residents of Winklebury who have been campaigning for a local senior school for years.”

David Ainsworth, project director, Manydown Partnership, added: “The partnership behind the new community at Manydown fully supports connections with the wider Basingstoke community including any future development at Manydown South.

"The planning consent given for development on Manydown allows for up to a 12-form entry secondary school on the site and safeguarded land for a potential crossing if required.”

The county council confirmed the petition will be considered if and when it is submitted to them.

A Hampshire County Council spokesperson added: “Once the petition about connecting Manydown North and South with a bridge has been submitted to the County Council, the requests made as part of that petition will be evaluated and responded to in due course.”

To sign the petition and show your support visit change.org/p/to-ensure-a-senior-school-is-built-we-must-have-a-bridge-between-manydown-north-south.