RESIDENTS have united in their fight to scrap plans to build a block of flats overlooking their leafy cul de sac in Southampton.

More than 40 householders in Squirrel Drive and neighbouring Middle Road, Sholing, who will also be affected by the proposals, have signed a petition.

They gathered to discuss the controversial scheme, which will see a three-storey block containing 21 flats erected.

The development goes before Southampton City Council planning chiefs next Friday.

Residents fear the scheme will cause huge parking problems and affect the safety of children in the area because of increased traffic.

Sarah Noon, chairman of Squirrel Drive Residents Association, said: "The majority of people chose to live here because it's a quiet area. This development would mean the standard of living here would drop.

"Instead of being overlooked by the trees they will be overlooked by flats.

"There's also not enough parking spaces for the proposed development, so the new residents' cars will have to filter out on to the road which will affect our children who play in the street."

She added there were also fears that because of the council's proposed changes to bin collections, it would lead to rubbish piling up.

"They will be housing all the bins from the 21 flats together and because of the changes in collections it will all be sat there for two weeks."

Eileen Jay, 66, who has lived in Middle Road for 27 years, said: "I'm worried about the congestion this will cause in Middle Road as it's a busy road at the best of times.

"Plans to build flats here were vetoed a few years ago because they wouldn't fit in with the area so if it's been vetoed once, I hope it's vetoed again."