CAMPAIGNERS descended on a Hampshire village hall to continue their fight against hundreds of proposed homes.

Residents gathered at Victory Hall in Warsash for a meeting organised by the Warsash and Western Wards campaign (SWWW) in order to fight plans for hundreds of homes being built in the village on Brook Lane and at Warsash Maritime Academy.

The plans, which form part of the council’s local plan for housing, have been the subject of strong resistance from residents which has involved a petition of more than 2,000 signatures being handed to Fareham Borough Council.

At the meeting, presentations were given by SWWW and the Hampshire branch of the Campaign to Protect Rural England (CPRE).

CPRE Hampshire campaigner Charlee Bennett said: “Following the approval of the first three applications, we are working with the campaign and the council on how the design can maximise the use of greenspace.

“We will also advice on what the residents can do next.

“We always want to protect the countryside in any way we can.”

Richard Thomas, from the Save Warsash and the western wards campaign, said: “We recognise that there is a need for more development, we have had a lot already.

“But what hasn’t happened is the infrastructure keeping pace with the development.

“An additional 1,200 homes on greenfield including 800 in Warsash is inappropriate and the design of the sites do not cater to the actual needs of the area.”

Rob Megginson, also from the group, added: “The meeting at Victory Hall was to let people know what was going on and to try and get extra support. This is about informing the residents, seeking their help and answering their questions.”

The meeting comes after Fareham Borough Council planning chiefs gave the go-ahead for 405 of the proposed 800 homes last month, all of which are at Brook Lane.

Councillor Sean Woodward, leader of the council, said: “With these larger developments it is critical to ensure that the developers pay the costs of mitigating the effects of their developments.

“This means paying for necessary road improvements, school places, open spaces and other community facilities.”