RESIDENTS of a Petersfield road have spoken out against plans to build 79 houses on the field behind their homes.

The proposals could see developer Persimmon Homes build on the green land west of The Causeway, with Larcombe Road becoming the only access route.

An online petition against the development has already attracted almost 350 signatures with concerns focused on the protection of wildlife, the impact on community life and the inability of the road to accommodate the extra volume of traffic.

Caroline Warriner, of Larcombe Road, is rallying residents before the October 26 deadline for comments. She said: “If everybody is against these plans they should say so otherwise they will assume we are OK with them.”

Many cars are already parked along the narrow street due to a shortage of space outside houses. Residents fear that when the new houses are built the situation will become unsustainable.

She added: “Access is definitely the main problem. It is going to be the only way in for potentially up to 150 cars if we assume that each house will have two cars.”

Linda Massey, who has lived on the road for more than 30 years, and has written to planners about her access concerns, said:?“We are definitely opposed to it. It’s always been a lovely quiet road and such a safe environment for the children to play. It’s just not a suitable road.”

Many residents suggested that an alternative point of access from The Causeway would be more suitable, however, for that to work, it would require one of the landowners there to be willing to sell land to the developers.

A spokesman for the South Downs National Park Authority said: “The consultation process is ongoing.

Find out about planning applications that affect you by visiting the Public Notice Portal.

“Once all submissions have been received and validated, the proposals will be put to the planning committee which will make the final decision.”