RESIDENTS trying to stop 2,000 homes being built at Barton Farm, Winchester, took their campaign to the streets.

Activists set up a stall beside the Buttercross in High Street at dawn on Saturday (February 9).

They spent several hours encouraging people to sign forms that will be sent to Winchester City Council.

The authority is currently weighing up where to build 12,000 homes in the district during the next 20 years.

It has identified Barton Farm as one of the possible areas for development.

Last week Cllr George Beckett, who leads the authority, insisted that building on the site was not a done deal.

His comments came after a senior council officer told residents at a meeting in Micheldever Station that they had no option but to develop Barton Farm to meet housing targets.

The authority is seeking comments on its 20-year plan, and campaigners are trying to ensure that Barton Farm is spared from development.

However, those fighting the plans have argued that the council's feedback form is too complex.

To ensure that residents have their say, the campaigners have created a shorter version, and printed 1,000 copies.

Activists at the Buttercross were urging people to sign the simplified forms, which will then be sent to the council.

Gavin Blackman, who chairs the Save Barton Farm Group, said: "It's been going better than we anticipated, which is probably down to the dry weather.

"Around 99 per cent of the comments we've received have been very positive.

"If people had said to us this morning that they wanted Barton Farm then we probably would have packed up and gone home, but they haven't."

He added that several hundred people had already signed the form calling on the local authority to block the proposal.

"What we're trying to do is to demonstrate the strength of feeling to the council, and one way we can do that is with the volume of responses," said Mr Blackman.

Following the street stall, campaigners turned their attentions to delivering leaflets to homes near the site.

The council's 20-year plan is on its website - www.winchester.gov.uk - and comments can be made up until Friday, February 15.