THOUSANDS of people in one of Hampshire's newest communities are to be asked if they want their own grassroots local authority.

Six hundred residents of the Valley Park area near Chandler's Ford have already signed a petition asking for their own parish council.

Questionnaires are set to drop through the letterboxes of every home in the area before Test Valley Borough Council decides its stance on the issue.

At present, a large part of the thriving Valley Park community falls within the North Baddesley parish boundary and a small part comes under the control of Chilworth Parish Council.

A review of parish sizes and boundaries is currently being undertaken by Test Valley Borough Council, which will make recommendations to the office of Deputy Prime Minister John Prescott.

Chilworth Parish Council has already come out in favour of a separate parish for Valley Park but North Baddesley is opposed to the move.

Now Test Valley's executive Cabinet has accepted a recommendation from an informal panel of borough councillors that every household in North Baddesley and Valley Park be consulted.

A Test Valley spokesman told the Daily Echo this was likely to be soon.

North Baddesley Parish Council chairman Alan Dowden said it was vitally important for the public to respond to the imminent letter drop.

He said: "The public must not take this lightly. We believe it is important to remain a united parish council."

Mr Dowden claimed splitting the parish would pose serious dangers of losing the strategic gap between Valley Park and North Baddesley and that parish precepts for the two areas would rise.

He added: "It would also play into Eastleigh's hands because in future times one could argue that Eastleigh had more rights over Valley Park than Test Valley."

However, petition organiser Robbin Shepherd said: "We are very happy that our call for a Valley Park parish council has been taken seriously and welcome this questionnaire.

"We feel a Valley Park parish council would be better able to provide local focus, representation and accountability. We want to address the needs of local residents and protect our own identity."

She added: "Geographically, Valley Park is separate from North Baddesley. We want to keep the strategic gap and would be happy to work with North Baddesley Parish Council to do so."