A look back at Alton’s battle to preserve its green spaces ten years after a painful decision allowed housing development.
The council meeting took place in Petersfield, not Alton, due to concerns about behavior, requiring police presence. People felt resigned to the outcome. Earlier protests were passionate and loud, but this time, defeat seemed certain.
The council approved two housing projects: 275 homes at Cadnam Farm and 180 homes at Will Hall Farm. Housing targets drove this change. These approvals started weeks before with the South Alton Plan, sparking huge resident outcry.
That plan sacrificed ninety-one acres, making way for 529 new homes. People wanted government to step in. The residents’ group teamed up with the town council, challenging the housing decision at the last minute. They said the town plan got ignored.
Officials claimed the houses helped the region, maintaining housing supply. Their plea fell on deaf ears. Many felt Alton lost the fight against building, which happened in February of that year.
There was a small bright spot ten years ago. The local paper showed sports center plans. Now, the center is a busy community place, proving good change can still happen.