A COMMUNITY has vowed to do battle with a property developer putting the finishing touches to a 227-home development.

Homes in a plush North Baddesley development, built by George Wimpey, are already on the market for up to £400,000.

But, behind the scenes, residents in the Hampshire village are fighting to improve landscaping plans which they claim are woefully inadequate.

They say using deciduous trees means there will be no privacy for homeowners in winter.

North Baddesley Parish Council has lodged objections to the tree-planting proposals for 12 of the new homes, and it warns that the flood risk needs to be investigated fully.

More than 130 letters have been sent out to residents by the parish council, urging them to register objections to the landscaping scheme for Knights Grove, off Rownhams Road.

Councillor Steve Cosier, who's also a member of Test Valley council, said: "George Wimpey have come along and angered everybody with these plans.

"I'm not saying they have to appease all the neighbours, but they should listen.

"Now I have had enough of it, and we're doing something about it. I've had so many calls from neighbours about the site, it's starting to take over my life at the moment."

However, George Wimpey managing director Ian Menham said they drew up the landscaping plans following long discussions with Test Valley council officers.

"The latest scheme was submitted for council's approval at the beginning of October and we are encouraged to believe that it will receive officers' support when the committee next meets.

"The council have our proposals for the provision of perimeter screen fencing which should overcome privacy concerns.

"It is disappointing to note that, contrary to the professional views of council officers, there is a desire locally to sustain non-indigenous conifer trees."

THEY have been living in their North Baddesley bungalow for 15 years.

In the past few months the Weavers say their lives have been blighted by a boundary row with George Wimpey developers.

Contractors removed the fence, owned by Wimpeys, while building work was underway and replaced it soon afterwards.

It is the state of the work that has angered Kay, 49, and Alec, 50.

"It's shoddy," said Kay, who works part-time in a school. "It's half-falling into our garden and we can't touch it because the fence is owned by Wimpey.

"The trouble is it's sitting on an earth bank that's sliding into our garden.

"We have asked them to put it up again but they are refusing to do the work."

Roofer Alec added: "We're worried that the fence will fall down - but the most annoying thing is that Wimpey won't co-operate."

George Wimpey managing director Ian Menham said he had agreed to extend the Weavers' garden as a "gesture of goodwill" and had promised to tidy up after the fence went up.

He told the Daily Echo: "We feel we have been more than fair to the Weavers on this matter. We find ourselves being accused unfairly and being asked to carry out additional works at considerable expense."