TALKS on delays surrounding a multi-million-pound plan to transform Totton town centre have been put on hold, the Daily Echo can reveal.

Totton civic leaders had been planning to demand answers at a crunch meeting with Hampshire County Council but the discussions have been postponed.

Totton councillor Dave Russell criticised the county council's decision, saying residents were being treated as second-class citizens.

Campaigners are fed-up with waiting for the main shopping area to be upgraded and want to know when improvements will be carried out.

Members of Totton and Eling Town Council are furious that nothing has happened since plans to transform the town centre were unveiled four years ago.

Town clerk Derek Biggs told the Daily Echo: "We appear to have been sidelined and don't want that to happen any more.

"It's at least 20 years since we started discussing the regeneration of the town centre and quite frankly the situation is becoming ridiculous. We want to see real action, real improvements and a timescale that can be met."

Stumbling blocks are understood to include lack of funding for a key component of the scheme - a relief road linking Salisbury Road with a mini roundabout at the junction of Ringwood Road and Maynard Road.

Mr Biggs added: "The government will only fund new roads that will reduce congestion and it's been suggested this scheme might actually increase congestion.

"What we need from the county council is confirmation of the funding position. If the relief road is not going to be built in the foreseeable future, we want to know what else can be done to enhance the town centre."

Mr Biggs said he was "disappointed" that today's meeting between officers from the two authorities had been postponed and added: "It's delay after delay."

Former town council chairman Dave Russell said: "It's indicative of how the county council views Totton. We're a major contributor to growth in Hampshire and yet we're being treated as a second class citizens, which is appalling."

George Dart, former chairman of the town council's planning and transport committee, said: "Every town in the New Forest has been improved except this one - it's not good enough.

"The feelings of local people on this issue are very strong."

A county council spokesman said the talks had been postponed because some members of the relevant steering group were unable to attend.

She added: "The meeting will be rescheduled, ideally before the end of the month."