ALRESFORD residents have been objecting to the proposals for a new estate on the edge of the town.

The proposal by Seaward Properties for 320 homes and industry on farmland off Sun Lane is out for consultation.

Robert Fowler, a spokesman for the Sun Hill Residents Group, said there are a lot of problems with the infrastructure, particularly how traffic will get into and out of the proposed employment zone.

For Mr Fowler one issue is that the application is only a portion of the site. "The danger is that the city council will try to approve the application for a partial amount of the site. What worries us is that new regulations requires them to assess the whole site."

Many local people are concerned about the increase of traffic on narrow roads such as Sun Lane.

Mr Fowler says a new access road on to B3407 Bishop's Sutton Road is needed. He pointed out that until the opening of the Alresford bypass in the 1980s it was a major road. "It took a large quantity of heavy traffic

"We are not opposed to 325 houses, but they are in the wrong place, with only one access on to Sun Lane for 600 cars a day. The B3407 is the old A31, a wide road suitable fort that extra traffic. There should be an access there."

Hampshire County Council has refused to support the application. Dominic McGrath, strategic transport manager, said more information was needed about the proposed junction into the industrial site off the A31.

Mr McGrath wrote: "Apparent errors and inconsistencies have been noted in relation to an array of technical elements within the applicant's transport assessment."

Mr Fowler said: "The proposed roundabout on the A31 would be the first new one since the A31 was dualled. It will attract traffic from across the county. They are planning to build 5-6,000 houses at Bishopstoke. That will put more traffic on the M3 and people will start to use 'backroads' to get through to the A31.

More than 100 people have objected with only four letters of support, including Jan Field, secretary of The Alresford Society, which argues that Sun Lane is the best solution to the town having to take 500 homes until 2030.

The Sun Lane campaigners want to see the development pepper-potted around the town.

Also objecting has been Cheriton and Bishop's Sutton parish councils.