RESIDENTS have formed a new campaign group to stop plans for thousands of homes in Romsey.

Romsave – a group of eight residents headed by chairman Simon Curtis – believes that 1,300 new homes earmarked for greenfields at Whitenap should be built elsewhere.

They say planners have got it wrong and the homes should be spread across southern Test Valley, not “dumped” on one site.

Romsave’s Richard Buss said: “In a nutshell Romsave is about saving Romsey from the planners and protecting the town from overdevelopment.

We could end up with a town similar to Totton or Chandler’s Ford if this development goes ahead.

“This will stick out like a tumour at the southern end of Romsey.”

Test Valley Borough Council planning spokesman Cllr Martin Hatley said: “The new Local Plan has identified two sites, one at Romsey and one at North Baddesley, to meet that need to complement the supply of houses coming forward from sites under construction and those with planning permission but not yet started.”