THE?fate of plans to build dozens of homes on a greenfield site in Petersfield rests on the outcome of a crucial meeting.

Thursday was due to be decision day for the South Downs National Park Authority and a bid to build 71 new homes off The Causeway.

The application by David Wilson Homes is the biggest to affect Petersfield in the short history of the national park authority planning committee.

Residents are vehemently opposed to the bid and were expected to be out in force at the meeting at Cowdray Hall, Easebourne.

Opponents are concerned with the loss of greenfield land and the effect the development will have on traffic, drainage and infrastructure.