NEW FOREST -The issues that matter most to you

Conservationists are alarmed at the number of family homes being bulldozed by developers and replaced with blocks of flats.

Gardens are classed as brownfield sites - previously developed land suitable for high-density development, making it easier for builders to obtain planning consent.

One of the areas affected is Lymington. In the past 12 months the Lymington Society has staged a public meeting and raised a petition signed by more than 1,000 people.

Now voters must decide if the Tories or the Liberal Democrats are the best people to tackle the issue.

Given the intensity of the campaign, it is hardly surprising that both parties are vowing to defeat the developers.

Lib Dems are calling for gardens to be designated as greenfield sites while the Conservatives claim to be spearheading the fight to prevent Government housing targets despoiling towns and villages.

The previous Lib Dem administration imposed parking charges in 1998. The Tories vowed to scrap the fees if they regained power and kept their promise after winning the 1999 elections.

However, the Conservatives introduced a new set of fees in 2004, saying they were needed on traffic management grounds.

Under the previous system every household was entitled to a free permit, so most charges were paid by tourists.

Now every motorist has to buy an annual parking clock or a ticket each time they use a council-owned car park.

Lib Dems say drivers determined to dodge the charges are causing traffic chaos by parking in inappropriate places and are pledging to review the fees on a case-by-case basis.

Lib Dems are vowing to double the funding for community safety officers. The Tories want to employ more CCTV, including new "talking cameras" which tell people off.

The possible introduction of wheelie bins is also causing concern.

Both the Tories and the Lib Dems are against the idea but the Conservatives have warned that various options will have to be considered unless recycling rates improve.