Villagers Halt Golf Club Expansion Over Lorry Fears

Plans for Corhampton Golf Club to expand its course near Southampton have been definitively halted following a unanimous rejection by the local planning committee. The proposed expansion, which included creating four new holes, was met with strong opposition from residents in the neighbouring villages of Corhampton and Droxford. Villagers expressed significant concerns regarding the substantial increase in traffic, estimating that the three-year construction period would require over 42,600 trips by 18-tonne lorries.

Residents argued that the narrow roads in their villages, already experiencing heavy traffic, could not safely accommodate such a volume of HGVs, raising fears of accidents and noise pollution. The planning committee ultimately sided with the villagers, concluding that the development would 'significantly harm the character' of the South Downs National Park. Further concerns were raised regarding the potential impact on archaeological assets and groundwater, as recommended by a Planning Committee officer.