ANGRY residents fear plans to build more than 350 homes on Hampshire countryside could create traffic chaos in their neighbourhood.

As previously reported, land in Valley Park has been earmarked for the development which, if approved, would see 365 homes built – along with a shop and play areas.

The new estate is proposed for Thorn Hill, a site which sits off Flexford Road between Chandler’s Ford and North Baddesley.

The application for outline planning permission for the new estate has been submitted by Gladman Developments Ltd (GDL) to planners for their consideration.

Now nearby residents fear the impact of up to 1,000 more vehicles on the roads will cause gridlock in the area and will swamp local schools and GPs.

Dozens of neighbours raised their concerns when they crammed into the Valley Park Parish Council meeting at Knightwood Leisure Centre.

They were listening to a briefing by parish councillor Alan Dowden who is urging people to have their say during public consultation.

Didem Watson is a mum who lives in Medway Drive which backs onto where the development is planned.

She said after the meeting: “We are very unhappy about it. My biggest worry is the potential increase in traffic on the roads.

“How will they be able to cope with another 1,000 vehicles on the roads? At the moment it is just coping.”

Resident Jeff Pike said: “What about the lorries going over the Flexford bridge. It’s an accident waiting to happen.

“If we have more traffic and more heavy lorries it is going to make it worse. And what about the infrastructure and the sewage.”

Karen Watson, is a tenant of land at Thorn Hill and keeps 11 horses there.

She said: “At the moment they come over that bridge at speed and extra people going over it will make it worse.

“How am I going to be able to find a place for my horses? We will challenge it all the way.”

Residents also fear it will exacerbate flooding already caused in the area, lead to the loss of wildlife and will put extra pressure on already stretched schools and doctors’ surgeries.

As previously reported the proposed site forms part of the “green” gap between the two parishes and therefore has not been identified in the Test Valley Borough Council local plan as suitable for development.

The local plan document sets out areas deemed suitable for development in the future, but TVBC’s plan is currently subject to a legal challenge by the Barker Mills organisation.

As previously reported Barker Mills, which has had two appeals thrown out over their bid to build a giant business complex in Nursling, has gone to the High Court claiming the plan is flawed and was not properly researched.

GDL declined to comment about the application to the Romsey Advertiser or about the impacts the development would have on traffic in the area.