CONTROVERSIAL plans to build hundreds of homes on a 64 acre site at Bursledon could wreck the village.

That was the fears expressed last night as villagers gave a frosty reception to proposals for 600 homes on land off Hamble Lane.

The site, which separates Bursledon from Southampton, and also includes park-and-ride facilities for 850 cars, a health centre, a care home, country park and public open space. Barratt Homes and George Wimpey are behind the plans which local residents fear will lead to traffic gridlock.

Bursledon Parish Council chairman Councillor Diane Sneezum said the main concern was traffic.

Fellow councillor Jeff Martin said: "The car boot sale and park- and-ride schemes cause gridlock on the days when they are in operation."

He said that the extra traffic would cause further disturbance in terms of noise and air pollution, particularly in the Green Lane and the top of Bursledon Green. One villager said that over the last 20 years traffic in the Hamble Lane area had grown remorselessly and to increase it would be a nightmare.

The parish council had called the meeting to sound out villagers' views before making its official comments to Eastleigh Council which is the planning authority.

The Eastleigh council committee for the area will consider the proposals at its meeting on January 13. But many residents attending the meeting were adamant that not one brick should be laid.

Another villager claimed it was a gross over development that would ruin Bursledon

Mr Steve Wilks, managing director of Barratt Homes Southampton, said that the proposals included about 200 affordable homes.