OPPONENTS of a plan to accommodate homeless families in two Junction Road houses have won round two of their campaign.

After a previous deferral, members of Test Valley's northern area planning committee rejected the proposal, which has attracted letters of protests from more than 130 residents.

But planning officer Paul Jackson said the issue would have to be referred to the full planning control committee because he feared the council would not be able to defend an appeal on the grounds given for refusal.

The application by Sarsen Housing Association is for change of use to temporary residential accommodation for homeless families with 12 bedrooms and shared facilities.

But Junction Road resident Chris Gwinn told the committee: "There is overwhelming opposition from residents to this application. Virtually every householder is opposed to this."

He added that more letters of opposition were being received all the time. Opponents argue the proposal would result in an over-concentration of this kind of accommodation with a total of five supported housing projects within a stretch of just 205 yards.

They fear that the new development would have an adverse impact on the character of the area in terms of increased noise, disturbance and crime.

Hampshire police, however, say texperience at other sites indicates that this type of accommodation has not increased crime or anti-social behaviour.

Cllr Rod Bailey argued the development should be refused because of over-concentration of this type of accommodation in the area and insufficient parking.

He said: "The over-concentration of this type of accommodation in the same area will change the character of the road for the residents."

Cllr Pat West: "These people do need homes but you have to balance that against the needs of the community in the street."

Cllr Ian Carr said opponents should not assume that a certain type of occupant - in this case, homeless families - were going to cause problems, but he was concerned about the concentration of this type of housing in one area.

And he added: "I don't think I've seen so many objections to an application since my time on the council."

Mr Jackson said: "You can't assume that people who are homeless are people that have a criminal record. They may simply be people who have come across hard times and need accommodation. There is no correlation between this type of use and crime."