WEEKS of road misery could be in store for Eastleigh residents living near a multi-million pound property redevelopment.

Building bosses working on The Gardens site are facing the possibility of having to close Cranbury Road for a month so they can lay a new 150-metre section of sewer.

Southern Water is insisting the current sewage line, which served the former Elm Tree Gardens flats, needs to be moved.

Senior figures at Barratt Homes, who are building the new homes for Eastleigh Housing Association, have said if the water company has its way disruption to residents will be unavoidable.

Pat Hassell, a spokesman for the Desborough and Cranbury Road Residents Association, said: "A lot of people are very distraught and cross about this because they can't see what they can do.

"People won't be able to park their cars, they won't be able to use the roads and there may be problems with public transport.''

High level talks have been taking place between the two firms in a bid to thrash out a compromise.

Heads at Southern Water are refusing to allow the main sewage line to be buried under the new homes because of the difficulties it would cause for future maintenance - even though the existing pipe ran under the former Elm Tree flats.

Staff at Barratts are desperate to avoid carrying out the extra work - which would cost £200,000 - and the turmoil it would create for residents of Cranbury Road.

But if a compromise has not been reached by June - the latest their building schedule allows for the matter to remain unresolved - the builders will be left with no choice but to move the pipe.

Steven Wilks, managing director of the Southampton branch of Barratts, said: "If we have to re-route the pipe it would mean us closing Cranbury Road for quite a long period which would mean people would not be able to park near their houses.''

Steve Lynch, new business and development manager for Eastleigh Housing Association, said: "Barratts are attempting to talk to Southern Water to avoid the diversion and we would support them in that request.

"If we don't have to divert it it's going to eliminate a lot of possible disruption for residents.

"It's not work that would delay the project overall because it's what Barratts have allowed to do but what were asking to do is do the work a simpler way by leaving the sewer where it is.''

Southern Water said: "We're in discussions with Barratt Homes because they need to relocate sewers before the development.

"Homes can't be on top of sewers because we won't be able to access them.

"We're working with them into how they can be redeveloped. This is normal national procedure in any kind of development.

"We're working with them on the best location for them to go to.''