MORE than 300 people in the Whitchurch area have signed petitions in protest against the demolition of Berehill House and the building of new homes on the site.

Seven separate petitions have been circulated around the town and will now be sent to Basingstoke council's planning department before tomorrow's cut-off date.

Officers will take objection letters and petitions into account before any recommendation or decision is made.

Mike Kean has helped co-ordinate the campaign against the proposed development that could see two blocks of flats and a row of houses built in place of the nursing home.

He said: "The petitions were in shops and pubs and we encouraged people to read the introduction and sign if they were against the development.

"We have in excess of 300 signatures and I think that there is quite a groundswell of opinion that people do not want Berehill House to be demolished."

Berehill House owner Michael Braganza told The Gazette that developers have the option to buy the land if planning permission is granted before June 30.

Mr Braganza, who has owned the house since 1993, also revealed that if the sale proves unsuccessful, a new 45-bed wing will be built at the nursing home.

Mr Kean, who has lived in Whitchurch for 19 years, added: "I have some sympathy with people who own and manage nursing homes. Government policy has caused problems for a lot of them.

"But I don't think residents of Whitchurch should be held to ransom because of the problems.

"I don't want this to get into nit picking. I would like Mr Braganza to come and talk to us to put his views forward."