CONTROVERSIAL plans for hundreds of new homes on an ex-hospital site may be redrawn after angry residents made their views known.

Local people piled pressure on officials at a public exhibition at the weekend, where detailed drawings of 251 homes on the Coldeast Hospital site were unveiled.

Speaking at the event, Dianne Dumashie, project development surveyor for Inventures, the firm behind the scheme, said residents' fears would be listened to.

She said: "The whole point is to listen to people and then take the plans further with Fareham Borough Council."

Concerned residents queued before the doors of the exhibition at the Parish Rooms in Sarisbury swung open at 10am.

They learned that there will be a mix of terraced, detached and apartment complexes and three listed buildings will be saved.

Most were worried about an increase in traffic as well as the strain 251 new homes will have on local services.

Exhibition organiser Counc-illor Sean Woodward, leader of Fareham Borough Council, said: "This will only make the already bad traffic situation far worse."

He is calling for a community centre to be included in the plans as well as a skatepark and play area.

Cllr Woodward claimed that the council had been left "to pick up the pieces" after the plans, which Fareham councillors had turned down, were steamrollered through by Deputy Prime Minister John Prescott.

But Mrs Dumashie said she hoped that the exhibition would allay some of the fears of local people.

She said: "We are trying to let people know that the application has been submitted and that we are working on a plan that is acceptable to everyone.

A public meeting will be held in the Parish Rooms on January 20, at 7.30pm, where officials will be questioned over the plans.