A CAMPAIGN against a £20m bus route between Fareham and Gosport is gathering pace.

Hundreds of residents have joined forces to fight the proposed high-speed link.

The old railway track between Redlands Lane in Fareham, and Tichborne Way in Gosport, has been earmarked for the scheme and clearance work has already taken place.

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Hampshire County Council wants to reduce congestion along the A32.

A new campaign group – the Bus Rapid Transport Action Group – has met for the first time. A total of 129 residents attended the meeting to add their support.

Gerard Lidgey, from the protest group, said: “Concerns were raised about the cost of the scheme, its incomplete route and the effect of the clearances on wildlife and their habitat.

“Anxiety was evident over additional pollution and the security of properties made more accessible at the rear to members of the general public.”

The county council has applied for a £20m Government grant for the project and is expecting to find out if its application is successful at the end of the month.

Councillor Mel Kendal, the county council’s executive member for the environment, said: “We are fully aware that consideration of wildlife is important and we intend to ensure that we will remain sympathetic to this issue and do all we can to carry out the work sensitively.”