THE fight against a bricks and mortar invasion which they fear could threaten their quality of life is set to be a hot topic when Eastleigh residents go to the polls next week.

Development pressures figure high on the list of issues as county council candidates go knocking on doors looking for support on June 4.

Anger has been raging over a Whitehall plan to create a mini-town by building 6,000 homes in the countryside around the Hedge End and Botley area.

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The north/north-east of Hedge End strategic development area is part of the Government’s vision to see nearly 83,000 new homes built across Hampshire by 2026.

Feelings are running high and residents have vented their anger at stormy public meetings. Campaigners say that building so many homes will create a logistical nightmare, doubling the number of cars on the roads.

They say that the infrastructure, including water supplies, are not in place to cope with such a huge influx of newcomers.

In Hamble the main word on villagers’ lips has been “gravel”.

The international yachting mecca has been on the county council hit list for massive gravel extraction plans.

If it went ahead the old Hamble airfield would have the biggest gravel pits in the south east of England.

Villagers fear that it would open the development floodgates with the prospect of 2,000 homes being built.

Protesters who have launched the Hamble Peninsula Residents Against Gravel Extraction (RAGE) website say the plans would ruin communities, businesses and the way of life.

RAGE says its mission is simple – to ensure that Hampshire County Council realises that this area is highly unsuitable for its mineral extraction plans.

It is a view that will be strongly echoed in the ballot box.

In other parts of the division there are also concerns that increasing infill development is destroying the character of areas. Chandler’s Ford is a prime example where residents fear backland development is threatening its leafy charm.

Potholes, lack of investment in youth services and controversies over bus services are also big issues that could be on voters’ minds.

All three major parties are fielding candidates in Eastleigh’s seven wards while the UK Independence Party also has a full field of candidates.