PLANS to provide New Milton with its first town hall have been hit by a row over the architecture.

A £900,000 centre planned for the junction of Ashley Road and Spencer Road was attacked as a "carbuncle" at a meeting of local councillors.

The scheme has been drawn up by Swaythling Housing Society and New Forest District Council.

Offices on the ground floor will be used by town and district councils, the Citizens' Advice Bureau and the Department of Social Security.

Ten one- and two-bedroom flats will be built on the upper floors.

Plans to provide the town with a civic centre were praised by the housing project control sub-committee, but councillors criticised the proposed design.

New Milton's Ben Rule was among members who gave the scheme a mixed reception.

He said: "It meets many of our civic needs and is as close to the town centre as you can get. I particularly welcome the possibility of a DSS office in the town.

"But the building's appearance is not in keeping with its surroundings and may encounter opposition from the town council and local residents."

Sub-committee chairman Delia Wilson recalled a speech by Prince Charles, a fierce critic of modern architecture.

"It's too modern - you look at the artist's impression and the word carbuncle comes to mind," she said.

However Mrs Wilson was one of several councillors who praised plans to provide New Milton and its 23,000 residents with extra facilities.

"It's the second largest town in the district, but hasn't got a proper town hall," she said.

Housing staff defended the proposed design, saying the three-storey building would be a landmark of which the town could be proud.

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