DOZENS of protesters are ready to do battle with housing chiefs as they campaign against plans for a pair of affordable homes in Wickham.

About 100 letters of objection have been sent to Winchester planners ahead of their meeting on Monday to decide whether two semi-detached homes can be built on a plot of land in Buddens Road.

And the woman fronting the campaign against the plans is furious that they look likely to get the go-ahead, when her father was denied permission for a wheelchair ramp on the same spot.

The application, by Winchester Housing Trust, is being recommended for approval by planning officers. But Jenny Hollis is to speak out at the meeting on behalf of her parents Joan and Alf Stubbington, whose home adjoins the site, and dozens of other residents in Buddens Road and Elizabeth Road.

She claims the properties are too large for the plot and would cause untold damage to neighbouring properties and historic trees on the site.

Protesters also believe the plans encroach on neighbouring land and would cause sewerage problems.

Mrs Hollis said: "We've spent £500 of our own money on having a building surveyor and tree surgeon look at it because all the others who have looked at it are council officers and they're just not independent.

"We now know that buildings there would damage the roots of three trees and cause subsidence at neighbouring properties. It would also encroach on to other land.

"They wouldn't let my father put a ramp in for his wheelchair because it would disturb the bank and now they are planning to mess the bank up to make room for cars to park."

Residents' letters highlighted problems with overlooking, congestion, loss of light and privacy and noise.

Wickham Parish Council have also voiced their objections, saying the homes are too large for the site, vehicles would not be able to turn safely, mature trees would suffer and the drainage system would be unable to cope with further development.

But council officers who have studied the site could find no reason not to build on the plot, owned by the city council.

A report concludes that there is a significant need for three-bedroomed affordable housing in the area and the site is a suitable size for two homes. Officers have checked and verified measurements and say there is no public sewer on the site.

A previous application for a two-storey block of four one-bedroomed flats was refused last year.