CAMPAIGNERS claim residents of south Hampshire are being held to ransom by the promise of a multi-million pound upgrade of our over-stretched transport network.

They say the proposed new traffic schemes - such as a Botley bypass, new bus services and motorway widening - are needed now, but will be inadequate to cope with the influx of 80,000 new homes in the region by 2026.

David Simmons from Save the South - a group fighting the Government plan for new homes - said many people were unaware of the sheer scale and exact locations of what is being proposed.

"If they were trying to ease our traffic problems now we would be more than happy with these schemes, but it will only happen on the condition that there are 80,000 new homes," he said.

"People have been talking about a Botley bypass for years, but do they know about the huge development that is going to happen right on their doorstep?"

Over the next two decades, Southampton will see the biggest increase in homes (16,300), followed by Winchester (12,240), Isle of Wight (10,400), Test Valley (9,520), Eastleigh (7,080), New Forest (4,140), Fareham (3,720) and Gosport (2,500).

Two strategic development areas (SDAs) - new self contained communities built on undeveloped greenfield land - will also be created north east of Hedge End (6,000 homes) and north of Fareham (10,000).

The local target is part of an overall strategy to build 128,300 new homes in Hampshire and 640,000 across the south-east.

The Partnership for Urban South Hampshire (PUSH) - which is made up of 11 local authorities - is demanding £2.1 billion from the Government to improve the transport system.

But Mr Simmons said the investment in infrastructure would not go where it was needed most, and planners should focus on developing deprived brownfield sites.

"It's a wider issue than just protecting the countryside, it's about looking at where the money and investment needs to go. What are they doing to help deprived areas like Havant, Gosport, Rushmoor and parts of Southampton?

"The nature of PUSH's consultation with the public has been secretive, these developments must not be rail-roaded. Any development has got to be with the genuine consent of the people."

Sean Woodward, PUSH chairman and leader of Fareham Borough Council, has fought the Government to ensure the number of new homes is capped at 80,000.

He expects the Government to confirm the exact number of new homes in March when PUSH presents its list of infrastructure demands to the South East of England Regional Assembly.