A RALLYING call has been issued to residents in Chandler's Ford and Hiltingbury to help protect the character of their leafy suburb.

The move has come in response to growing pressure from land hungry developers in the area.

Last week Hilitingbury residents lost their fight to save a 1920s house, which was originally built for a missionary, and is now set to be bulldozed and replaced by flats. Eastleigh council claims it has been powerless to stop the encroaching development and has had its hands tied as Whitehall presses home the need for more homes to be built on brownfield sites.

Now planning chiefs are drawing up guidelines for future development that will be cemented into planning policy. They hope it will send out a strong message to developers that the rural charm of Chandler's Ford has to be preserved.

It could also be used as ammunition to fight planning appeals where development is seen to be out of character. Part of the project includes gauging public reaction to the plans so a public consultation document will be on display at the Dovetail Centre in the Chandler's Ford Methodist Church, Winchester Road, today from 4pm and 8pm. Copies will also be available at the local library and the Eastleigh Civic Offices.

Councillor Godfrey Olson, chairman of the Chandler's Ford and Hiltingbury Local Area Committee, said: "We want to resist applications for demolishing houses and replacing them with high-density developments."