A VIRTUAL protest over the 5,000-home Royaldown scheme has been postponed to next month.

The Save South Winchester campaign had originally planned to hold a socially distanced march around the site perimeter on Sunday January 24.

It was then moved online but now has been put back to Sunday February 28 to coincide with the public consultation over the new Winchester Local Plan.

Further details are yet to be released by campaign leaders Cllr David Killeen, chairman of Hursley Parish Council, and county councillor Jan Warwick.

Cllr Killeen said the delay allowed more time to organise the event and it would coincide with the launch of the local plan public consultation.

A link to the online protest is expected to be posted in the Save South Winchester Facebook page.

Royaldown is the scheme to build 5,000 homes on Down Farm, owned by Nick Russell, between Winchester and Hursley. If ever approved, it will offer 3,000 more homes than the Barton Farm development on Andover Road.

The plans include a new access road onto Badger Farm Road, two primary schools, a secondary school, a park and ride, a health centre and several surrounding solar farms.

An online petition on Change.org has garnered 4,264 names with a target of 5,000.

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