PLANNING chiefs have been accused of allowing developers to destroy the character of a picturesque Hampshire town.

More than 200 people attended a meeting in Lymington last night to voice their anger at decisions taken by New Forest Council.

Many of the speakers protested at the huge number of flats springing up in the town.

They also complained that large houses and gardens were being snapped up by developers, who were attempting to cram as many new homes on to the sites as possible.

Council chiefs blamed the government, saying local authorities were being forced to approve high-density developments.

The meeting was chaired by Clive Sutton, chairman of Lymington Society.

He said: "What the developers, and to a certain extent the planners, don't seem to understand is that Lymington has a particular overall character that is being slowly but surely changed.

"The view is sometimes expressed that only neighbours are affected, but the whole town is affected by the fact that a prominent street has changed character. That diminishes and changes the value of Lymington.

"I'd like this meeting to send a clear message to planners. Local people have had enough of unwanted change.

"Future developments must not be big blocks of flats, but reasonable living units compatible with the area."

Mr Sutton claimed that only the neighbours' view was taken into account when councillors considered plans to build 11 houses in Waterford Lane.

He said: "Where the character of a significant area is being changed, people living in the town generally should be able to have their views taken into consideration.

"They should not be dismissed as having no relevance."

Fellow society member Donald Mackenzie said Lymington was "under siege" from developers.

He added: "Lymington has had enough new flats. The council has got to say no' to developers while there is still something to protect."

Residents attending the meeting were urged to sign copies of a letter to housing minister Yvette Cooper.

The letter says Lymington will look like "any nondescript suburb in the UK" unless applicants are prevented from building high-density developments.

District council leader Mel Kendal said local authorities were having to comply with density targets set by the government.

He added: "This government is obsessed with accommodation, whereas it should be concerned with quality of life."