OUTRAGED residents will hold an emergency meeting tonight following a proposal for a housing development in their small New Forest village.

About 250 members of the Ashurst community have received leaflets urging them to attend the meeting to stop a new plan to house at least 47 people.

Residents are furious because another proposal to create new homes was thrown out by New Forest District Council just two months ago.

Developer Kingfisher Housing Association wants to demolish the two pairs of railway cottages located near the New Forest Hotel and next to Ashurst railway station.

In their place they propose to build an affordable or social housing development consisting of five terraced houses, a two-storey block of six flats and another three-storey block of flats.

Locals believe this will be far too big for the site, will ruin the historical setting of the railway cottages and will be in a dangerous location next to the busy A35.

An action group, made up of residents, is currently being set up to fight the plan.

Leading campaigner Rosemary McKay, of Woodlands Road, said: "We do look forward to something happening at the station yard but feel a major development for at least 47 people is excessive.

"We do not object to affordable homes but feel a smaller collection would be in everyone's interest and more in keeping with the area.

"To cram so many people between a railway, a main road and a public house into such a 'ghetto' space is unrealistic, impractical and dangerous.

"It is a development designed for an urban situation - something we hope Ashurst will never become."

Residents are disappointed that a previous social housing plan to refurbish the existing cottages and build another pair of the same style has been ditched.

Villagers in Ashurst set up a similar group last year to protest against a plan to build nine homes on land adjoining Foxhills Infant and Junior schools.

New Forest District Council dismissed the proposal in December but it is believed that the developers may have lodged an appeal.

Tonight's meeting will be held at The New Forest Hotel at 7.30pm. Everybody is welcome.