Winchester Tories have launched a petition over proposals to build thousands of new homes in Hampshire.

The party in the city is to spearhead the attempt to mobilise public opinion just as development looms north of the ancient cathedral city.

An independent survey has suggest-ed that 169,000 new homes need to be built in Hampshire by 2016.

But so far Hampshire County Council has agreed to 42,000 with 14,000 in "reserve'' if needed.

One of the reserve sites is Barton Farm off the Andover Road and if the increased number of 169,000 was accepted this would almost certainly lead to development on the green-field site, as well as putting Micheldever Station back into the picture. Deputy Prime Minister John Prescott is expected to make a deci-sion on the proposals next year.

Launching the petition at a meeting of the party and conservation cam-paigners in the Guildhall on Saturday, prospective Winchester Conservative parliamentary candi-date Andrew Hayes said the plans were "outrageous''.

"We will be sending forms out to our 1,300 members to get them to go out to the people of Winchester and get them to sign,'' he said. "We can then send it to the government to tell them the majority of the people of Winchester do not want this proposal that will destroy Hampshire.'' Others at the meeting included Hampshire MEP Roy Perry and Hampshire County Council leader Ken Thornber.

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