A BATTLE is brewing as campaigners from across a Hampshire borough prepare to fight against a controversial housing plan.

Hundreds of people will protest against Fareham Borough Council’s new local plan next week which allocated more than 3,300 homes to be built in the borough by 2036.

Now, the first set of protests will wave in from the east when hundreds of people from Portchester will be waving banners and signs as they march from Wicor primary school in the town to the civic offices in Fareham town centre, a distance of two and a half miles.

Among the other villages with mass development expected include Warsash, Locks Heath, Parkgate and Stubbington.

Claire Turner, who is organising the march said: “The village is very passionate about the fact that their voices have not been heard. “Portchester’s green land destruction will be the start of the village growing into another urban maze which is all in response to the government’s agenda to create more housing in conjunction with Welborne.”

In a letter to Fareham MP Suella Fernandes seen by the Daily Echo, Wicor primary school headteacher Mark Wildman feared the developments would create ‘needless acute problems’.

In the letter, he wrote: “I find this unacceptable and immoral.

“The current building frenzy has taken on a ‘Wild West’ feel – land is being grabbed and built on with little or no regard to the needs and wishes of the local community.”

Portchester councillor Shaun Cunningham, who was involved in marches against Welborne in 2014 said: “The residents of Portchester are extremely angry, it’s 750 houses with no infrastructure at all.”

Brian Smale, chair of the Warsash Residents Association said: “The new houses announced in the local plan last week has come as a surprise. It would mean that the population of the village would increase by 30 per cent.”

Residents from Warsash and Stubbington will join the protest which starts from Wicor primary school on Monday at 4.30pm.

Council leader Cllr Sean Woodward said: “Everyone has a right to express their views in as various ways and I encourage everyone to come to the meeting. But residents will be able to find out more about the draft plan and ask questions on proposals in your local area at local CAT meetings.”

The council will debate the plan on Monda from 6pm with residents reminded that no placards or signs are allowed into the meeting.