RESIDENTS in a Basingstoke suburb are calling for action because a major construction project has turned their neighbourhood into an eyesore.

Upset locals are urging Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council to remove debris and weeds from a former playing field in Oakridge.

The site is currently being used as a storage area for topsoil and chalk produced as a result of regeneration work in the area.

Trevor Drayton, of Lansley Road, is one of many residents affected by the development. He said: "We've had to put up with this mess for more than two years. It isn't a pleasant experience to sit in our garden any more and we haven't even had a barbecue since work started."

Residents are also worried that the appearance of the field has affected the value of property in the area.

Mr Drayton said: "I retired in January 2002 and I had intended to move to a smaller house but when I put the house on the market it became apparent I couldn't raise enough money. Despite what prospective purchasers are told, as soon as they see the field, they don't look any further.

"We feel trapped and unable to move without compensation. We should be starting to enjoy our retirement, but instead we are stuck until the work on the field is completed."

Terry Osborne, of Stratfield Road, feels the regeneration work has not been beneficial to current Oakridge residents.

He said: "It effects us because we used to walk our dog there and take our grandchildren to the park. All our friends in Stratfield Road are spitting teeth. There's been a significant reduction in house prices, but we would have been happy if they had returned it to the way it had been previously like they said they would."

Oakridge residents have teamed up with local councillors to collect signatures for a petition in a bid to get the area cleaned up.

Basingstoke Norden ward councillor Paul Harvey has been supporting the residents. He said: "Llewellyns have an agreement with the council to use the site for a particular length of time. We believe that it's time they give that open space back to the community. We're running a petition and we'll be dropping letters to all the residents to express our support.

"The field was used for football and was a nice open space that was of great benefit to Oakridge. Now it's just an eyesore."

Despite the concerns of local residents, the council are confident the playing field's greenery will be reinstated.

Paul Galliford, a spokesman for the borough council, said: "The contractors are coming to the end of the construction phase that requires the use of this site for storage purposes and will be reinstating the field this autumn. There are no further developments planned for this site."