RESIDENTS will tonight make a last-ditch attempt to block a brownfield development which they fear could pile more traffic misery on their area.

Residents living in the Hobb Lane area of Hedge End have already bombarded Eastleigh Council with protest petitions and letters.

And tonight they are expected to turn out in force to make an 11th-hour plea when the application by Pride Homes Limited to build seven homes on an infill site in Hobb Lane is considered by the Hedge End, West End and Botley Local Area Committee.

Planning officers are recommending that the scheme should be given the go-ahead.

In a report the planners say that the site can accommodate higher density housing without having a detrimental impact on surrounding properties or the character of the area.

But local residents fear that Hobb Lane will become even more congested - especially at peak times when more than 600 children are going to and from Freeground Junior and Infant schools.

Pat Travers, who lives in Hobb Lane, said: "Hobb Lane is already a rat-run and we are concerned about the safety of children."

Residents say that the drainage system is outdated and claim it cannot take much more development, which they insist is also out of character with the surrounding area.

Mrs Travers said: "There is a lot of infill development going on in Hedge End and everyone is angry."

Their campaign is being backed by Conor Burns, Eastleigh Conservatives' prospective parliamentary candidate.

Mr Burns, who lives in Hedge End, said: "The fact is that Hedge End, like many other parts of Eastleigh, is bursting at the seams.

"The schools, the roads and the water infrastructure are all stretched."

Andrew Southcott, managing director of Pride Homes Ltd, said: "We firmly believe that this development complies with government guidelines for building on brownfield sites."