RESIDENTS in Twyford have been urged to fight plans for thousands of new homes being built on countryside.

Chairman of Stoke Residents Association David Lovegrove has formed a group called Action against Destructive Development.

The group is battling plans by Eastleigh Borough Council to earmark 6,000 homes between Bishopstoke, Fair Oak, Upham, Colden Common and Allbrook.

As part of the campaign, Mr Lovegrove is rallying support from nearby villages including Twyford and Colden Common, Upham, Owslebury and Fair Oak.

Addressing residents at the annual Twyford Parish Assembly, Mr Lovegrove said: “The impact on you will be on transport.

“When you have 6,000 new dwellings you are going to have 30,000 more daily traffic movements on the roads. Of course that will impact on you.”

“The developers will present this to Eastleigh Borough Council and say it will take traffic from junction 3 of the M3 and it will relieve traffic. But we do not believe it will.”

He described the proposed Bishopstoke bypass as “nonsense”, and called for housing to be built close to Allington Lane, or distributed evenly across the Eastleigh area and include Botley, Hamble, West End and Hedge End.

The council is yet to announce where it proposes housing should go following a consultation on eight possible options early this year.

A petition against the plans has been started and has already attracted more than 500 signatures, and will be presented to Eastleigh Borough Council on June 16.

Find out more about the plans at https://www.eastleigh.gov.uk/lp36.

Find out more about the campaign at https://www.facebook.com/Action-Against-Destructive-Development-Bishopstoke.