OPINIONS are split on a plan to build the UK’s largest electric vehicle charging station near Winchester.

As previously reported, the proposed charging hub will be built near Three Maids Hill if approved, with the plans submitted by InstaVolt.

Various objections have come from residents living near the site, while the application has seen support from people living as far away as Bude in Cornwall.

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Headbourne Worthy Parish Council object to the plan, saying: “The A34 junction and the A272 will already have high usage from sizeable vehicles due to the proposed anaerobic digestion facility and the materials recycling operation. From the other side, access to the facility will be along Winchester Road once Andover Road is closed, which will increase the traffic flow along an urban road. The Council believes that as electric car usage increases the congestion on this small area will increase.”

The parish council also expressed concerns about light pollution and queried if it will have an effect on the local power supply.

Paul Fielding, of Main Road, Littleton, Winchester, also objected: “I do not see how this adds any benefit to services that already exist very close nearby, for example, South Wonston, Newbury, and Southampton. Especially given the loss of green space and impact on the local environment, increase in traffic on the Three Maids roundabout and the noise impact on the adjacent Littleton Stud which would be significant in disturbing the horses.”

Jeremy Banks, of Stockbridge Road, called the charging station “totally inappropriate”, while Kim Hepworth, of Felmer Drive, Kings Worthy, supported the plans: “Having more convenient access to chargers may encourage more electric vehicle ownership, as chargers are few and far between in the area. Therefore, I think this would bring benefit overall. But it would be nice to see some nature regeneration plans within this, as it is building upon yet another field in the local area.”

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Andrew Stedman, who lives on Kirby Road in Stone, Dartford, also supported the application, saying: “I am not a local resident, but charging facilities like this are, of course, particularly needed by people when away from home.”

Nicholas Bull, of Poughill, Bude, also supported the plans, writing: “I often travel through this area and feel this would be a great facility, an asset to the locality and vital to support the transition to low emission vehicles.”

More information about the planning application can be found by visiting the Winchester City Council planning portal and searching using reference 23/01594/FUL.