ANGRY residents have launched a campaign to prevent developers obliterating the grounds of a unique detached home in leafy Hiltingbury, Chandler's Ford.

Householders in Hiltingbury Road and Kingsway were outraged when tree surgeons moved in last weekend and started axing trees in the garden of 25 Hiltingbury Road - a home built in the 1920s for a former missionary to China.

They turned out in force for a meeting of Eastleigh council's Chandler's Ford and Hiltingbury local area committee to make their feelings known.

Pinedene Homes have lodged three planning applications with the council.

An outline plan asks for permission to demolish the existing home and build 12 two-bedroom apartments.

Two further applications seek permission for a detached house to be built within the grounds of the property.

But speaking at the local area committee meeting, Hiltingbury Road resident Chris Mellish told councillors: "I am here to object to all three proposals on this site."

He said a visit by tree surgeons last weekend had resulted in the loss of about 15 to 20 mature, healthy trees and the first residents were aware of it was when they heard the sound of chainsaws.

Police were called as residents argued that the removal of the trees was not necessary and Mr Mellish claimed the workmen said they would contact the council.

But within half an hour another tree had been felled.

"They kept telling us they owned the property and they could do what they wanted," said Mr Mellish, who told councillors: "The gratuitous vandalism witnessed last weekend was equally as shocking as the fire at Thornden School."

Kingsway resident Ben Samuels claimed the highway safety and traffic impact of development on the site would cause more problems on a "dangerous and busy" road which had become a rat-run to the M3 motorway.

Barry Goater, of Hiltingbury Road, said the area's current habitat of large gardens and trees supported a wide range of wildlife.

"The residents of Hiltingbury share this habitat with these animals and we are able to enjoy a certain amount of tranquillity.

"I fear the path of urbanisation, if we follow it, will lead to increase of the horrors of the town - and at this prospect I shudder."

Councillors deferred consideration of the development application for the 12 two-bedroom apartments.

A council spokesman told the Daily Echo the authority's tree officer was aware that at least six trees had been felled - none of which were covered by preservation orders - and the site owner had been within his rights to take them down.

The officer had visited the site last week to identify if any of the non-protected trees were of significant value to the local area for an emergency order to be made.

But he added: "Although they were healthy trees, the strict guidelines that would need to be followed to justify a tree preservation order could not, unfortunately, be met."