EUROPEAN law which protects the habitats of endangered species could be the key in the fight against plans for up to 180 new homes in Lindford, it was revealed on Monday.

At Lindford Parish Council's meeting chairman Ian Skelton-Smith said he has discovered legislation which prevents building on the habitats of endangered species unless it is for special reasons, such as for a hospital.

This, coupled with the news that the presence of water voles in the River Deadwater has been confirmed, could help the parish council fight an imminent planning application by developer Charles Church to build homes at the bottom of Chase Road.

However the council has said that it must do more research on the law before it can celebrate.

Eric Birkett toldfellow councillors that mammals officer Mervyn Mewman, from Surrey Wildlife Trust, had confirmed that water voles live on the river bank next to where the housing development is proposed.

Councillors are to make final checks with the wildlife trust about the water vole's status as a protected species.

Mr Birkett said: "Mervyn Newman told me that he had visited an area of river on June 11 with Mike Wearing (the Deadwater Valley ranger) and he had seen signs of water vole activity on the Lindford side of the River Wey, approximately 250 metres downstream of its confluence with the River Deadwater.

"I asked him whether the water vole's colonies could exist were a large housing development to be built close by.

"He stated that it would be highly unlikely, as statistics show that, where a fairly large housing development is built, 30 per cent of the buildings have cats and dogs which would either frighten or destroy the water vole, which is a protected species.

"He has arranged with Hampshire Wildlife Trust for a full water vole survey of that part of the river where any proposed development could be built."

Mr Birkett reported to that other avenues of opposition were also being explored, including a report to East Hampshire District Council by planning consultant Edward Dawson, who is arguing against the proposal on environmental, planning, traffic and flooding ground.

He said: "Should Mr Dawson's report fail, it was decided that a leaflet should be circulated to every house in Lindford, updating all residents and asking them to attend a public meeting, hopefully at Lindford Working Men's Club ,once a planning application is submitted.

"It would be imperative that as many letters of objection as possible be submitted to EHDC because if there are less than 20 letters submitted, then I would not be allowed to speak for three minutes at any planning meeting to object to the proposed development."

Councillors have also agreed to lobby members of the district council's north planning sub-committee about the application once it is submitted.