A COUNCILLOR has said Eastleigh Borough Council’s emerging Local Plan will bring “chaos and carnage” to the area.

Cllr Richard Izard’s ward of Colden Common and Twyford borders where Eastleigh Borough Council wants to build thousands of new homes.

The preferred options of the borough council - known as options B and C - would see 5,200 homes built to the north and east of Bishopstoke and Fair Oak, as well as new shops, schools, open spaces and a bypass.

But campaigners say this will result in a “massive urban sprawl”, damaging ancient woodland and wildlife as well as increasing traffic.

In a last-ditch attempt to fight the plans before a crucial decision meeting next week, Action Against Destructive Development (ADD) have held meetings across Hampshire where they have laid out their case.

Cllr Izard said: “We know that Eastleigh is under pressure to put together a plan for new homes over the next 15 years, but to put them all on a swathe of countryside between Lower Upham and Allbrook would be a planning disaster.

“It would lead to road chaos and countryside carnage when there are far better options with far fewer downsides.”

He said that Eastleigh’s favoured option would lead to an additional 26,000 traffic movements a day, mainly under the Allbrook railway bridge.

“Traffic to and from the M3 would simply come to a standstill,” he said.

Cllr Izard also said that the impact on wildlife in and around the River Itchen at Allbrook and Highbridge, and on the ancient woodlands north of Bishopstoke and Fair Oak, would be “catastrophic”.

Eastleigh Borough Council’s target was to deliver 16,250 homes by 2036, but a Local Plan for 2011-2036 was thrown out by a government inspector in 2014.

It will meet at The Hilton at the Ageas Bowl on December 11 to consider the Local Plan.

Cllr Keith House, leader of Eastleigh Borough Council, said: “Sadly Richard Izzard appears not to have read Eastleigh’s Local Plan documents. His repeated assertions are fake news.

“The Local Plan provides the homes we need in the most sustainable locations, minimising environmental impact, protecting the ancient woodlands and improving transport links.

“Residents have genuine concerns that the council aims to meet but Cllr Izzard’s continued scaremongering helps nobody.”