PARISH councils in the south west of Winchester are uniting to support the idea of a new Green Belt to include the approaches to Winchester.

They are fearful that the Government White Paper on the future of planning will result in increased pressure for housing on many areas of countryside across the county.

The Government's ideas would mean much more development and areas with no statutory protection, such as Green Belt, far more vulnerable than at present.

The Council for the Protection of Rural England is proposing a Green Belt for southern Hampshire and parish councils near Winchester are hoping to have it extended as a way of preventing urban sprawl.

Hursley, Oliver’s Battery and Otterbourne councils have already submitted their proposals to civic chiefs as part of the Local Plan Review.

Badger Farm, and Compton and Shawford, are also in the process of completing their submissions.

Developers are eyeing the countryside the south west of Winchester for housing with South Winchester Golf Club suggested for development in the SHELAA review.

The Government's proposals for the future of development is based on an algorithm that gives weight to 'affordability'. The result of that is that the Winchester area would see a disproportionate amount of housing development.

The city council is currently drawing up a Local Plan Review which should clarify the picture.

David Killeen, chairman of Hursley Parish Council, said: "Since March 2020, lockdown and the Covid-19 pandemic has brought into even sharper focus the local need for open green space for exercise, recreation, social well-being and positive mental health. More than ever before, people of all ages have seen many benefits in the countryside and green spaces around them."

Janet Arnold, Oliver’s Battery resident, said: “We saw so many visitors from other parts of Winchester during lockdown. Our southern field is listed as an Asset of Community Value with Winchester City Council. It certainly lived up to this designation, people from all over Winchester were using it, not just our own community.”

These parishes in the south west quadrant agree that protecting open green spaces is important to the city of Winchester as a whole.

Mr Killeen added: "The Local Plan Review presents Winchester City Council with an exciting opportunity to protect the land around our city, providing ‘the countryside next door’ for all the people of Winchester. Now, more than ever, open green spaces need to be part of our lives."