CAMPAIGNERS are set to hold a public meeting soon in their battle against a new town of 6,000 houses in the Hampshire countryside.

The owners of the Sutton Scotney Estate are proposing the scheme on farmland east of Micheldever Station.

Last week the Chronicle revealed that agents for the Magnier family are promoting the land as a site for housing as the city council reviews its Local Plan.

The Dever Society campaigning charity is organising a public meeting to share information and is calling for new members to join the group set up when the threat of housing first emerged in 1990.

It said: "We have never been opposed to housing development, so long as it is the right kind of housing, in the right scale and in the right place. We believe that 6,000 houses is completely inappropriate at Micheldever and it will wipe out our thriving rural community. We need your help to ensure that we are ready to fight this next battle.

"Over the last few years our community has grown, and many residents may be unaware of this ongoing threat to our rural area."

The meeting is due to be held in the coming weeks on a date and venue to be announced.