Fareham residents have said they want to see environmental issues at the top of the agenda after the results of a borough-wide survey were published.

Improving the appearance of neighbourhoods, recycling as well as protecting open spaces and heritage were all seen as priorities for the majority of people questioned.

The results were a compilation of residents' responses during high profile consultation over the summer in a bid to form a community action plan for the future.

Figures were based on comments from almost 250 leaflets distributed to households borough-wide and some 1,915 visits to roadshows staged by the council across Fareham.

They will now be used to form the plan for Fareham, taking into account the views of residents and involving health bosses, police and voluntary groups to deliver the results.

Launching the partnership known as networkfareham last night at Fareham's Ferneham Hall, executive leader Sean Woodward said: "This is not simply a 'tick in the box' exercise for the council to say that we have formed a strategy. But it is something that through partnership we can tackle and improve the issues residents feel strongly about.

"It will be a living document that will need to be constantly monitored and reviewed by those who it affects - you."

The second priority according to the survey was transport issues particularly improving public transport and cutting down traffic congestion primarily along the A32 into Gosport.

Speaking at the launch in front of specially invited guests, county councillor Mar-garet Snaith said improving transport issues was likely to come from encouraging people out of cars rather than investing in roads.

She also dealt a blow to those hoping traffic problems would be eased with the building of a bypass through Stubbington.

"Unfortunately the more we look into that proposition the more problems we find.''

Crime also featured in the top five issues residents would like to see tackled with health, leisure and care of the elderly also seen as needing to feature prominently.

A draft plan has been compiled on the back of the survey that will be distributed to residents before a strategy is agreed.