FURIOUS residents are challenging the accuracy of figures being used to support a multi-million-pound expansion plan at a New Forest hospital.
People living near Tatchbury Mount Hospital, Calmore, are alarmed at the scheme, which is set to create more than 1,000 vehicle movements a day.
Health chiefs have told New Forest District Council that the hospital used to generate 900 car journeys a day.
But the true total was less than half that number, according to campaigners battling the latest planning application submitted by West Hampshire NHS Trust.
They claim the figure quoted by the trust refers to the amount of traffic created over several days.
Residents fighting the scheme include Ken Ball, of Loperwood Lane, Calmore, who has outlined his objections in a hard-hitting letter to the council.
The letter says: "Documents submitted by the applicants calculate that the proposed development of the site will generate approximately 1,800 vehicle movements a day.
"They try to justify that with information from an ex-employee of the hospital which, they say, confirms that about 900 vehicle movements a day were recorded at the time the hospital was fully occupied.
"However, a correct analysis of the schedule shows there were only 269 movements a day."
Other estimates suggest the daily total was between 350 and 400 movements, which is still less than half the figure released by the trust.
Forest North councillor David Scott said there were "serious errors" in the statistics compiled by the organisation.
"The number of cars was nowhere near the number being claimed," he said.
Roger Hill, a planning officer employed by Totton and Eling Town Council, expressed similar views. He said: "The district council should negotiate a form of development that generates no more traffic than the previous maximum level, but before this can be done the relevant figure needs to be agreed.
"The applicant claims that it was 900 vehicle movements a day. Others, who have considerably more local knowledge, believe it was far less."
District councillors deferred the West Hampshire NHS Trust's latest application - a proposal to use seven buildings as offices - after ruling that they needed more information.
Now Netley Marsh councillor Les Puttock is seeking help from the public.
He wants anyone who can supply him with information about traffic movements at the hospital to contact him on 023 8086 9444.
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