"PLEASE listen."

That is the message from campaigners who walked the streets of a Hampshire town yesterday in protest at plans to transform a former council offices site.

Dozens of people were expected to turn out to voice their objection to proposals for a retail park complete with a car dealership, two restaurants and office block at the site on the outskirts of Eastleigh.

They hoped to send Eastleigh Borough Council bosses back to the drawing board.

The site, off Leigh Road, had been home to the now demolished magistrates’ court and former civic offices vacated when the council moved to the £12million Eastleigh House in the town centre in 2014.

Local authority bosses say the plans will create 300 jobs and regenerate the area.

Council leader Keith House has said they had carefully considered what to build to maximise jobs and income without a negative impact on the town centre and looking at what would fit in with the local area.

But residents have voiced concern about increased noise, traffic and anti-social behaviour, fearing that the restaurants will be fast food outlets.

With its proximity to both the M27 and M3 motorway, opponents also fear it could become a virtual extra motorway service station.

They say with Leigh Road already an area where pollution is above acceptable levels, this will only make the situation worse.

There has also been concern about drawing away trade from the town centre.

Protestors have been leafleting local people and have gathered a petition of more than 400 signatures.

Campaigners, including Eastleigh MP Mims Davies, will gather at the Pavilion on the Park, in Kingfisher Road, at 9am to walk over to the civic centre site carrying banners and placards.

Caroline Pearce, from the Eastleigh Local People group set up to fight the plans, said she felt residents had not been properly consulted.

“This is really just to send a strong message to the council that we would like that site used for something to benefit Eastleigh rather than the current proposed usage, which will actually, we believe, be detrimental to the community,” she said.

“Our message is abandon the current plan and start again in consultation with local people.”

She said the site could have been used to provide affordable housing and a new doctor’s surgery to help cater for residents in the upcoming 1,000-home development at Stoneham Park.

“There’s a desperate need for more housing in Eastleigh,” said the 45-year-old Leigh Road resident.

“There are so many better things we could do with it.

“We just want to get our message across that we’re not happy with what’s proposed. A lot of people have said they’re angry.

“This is the council we elect and pay for and this seems to be the wrong choice – we just hope they will listen to us.”

The plans were due to be decided next week, having originally been set for December, but have been postponed.