PETERSFIELD town councillors objected to yet more plans for apartments this week and asked, "Do we need so many flats in the town?".

Members have become increasingly worried over recent months, by what they perceive to be a growing trend of high-density housing in the area.

This time, developers want to build a block of 10 flats on the corner of King George Avenue and Barham Road.

But councillors have thrown their weight behind calls from residents in the area to scrap the proposal, amid fears of worsening traffic and parking problems.

At a meeting of the town council planning committee on Tuesday, chairman Mary Vincent said: "I must admit I do feel that 10 flats and only 10 parking spaces is a bit tight.

"It seems to be the trend at the moment. Do we need so many flats in the town?"

And fellow councillor Chris Jenner feared if they got the go-ahead, the flats could go down the route of similar buildings in the area.

"It is an over-development of the site. It seems wherever they build flats they become run down. Just look at the flats in Sandringham Road - they are very run down," he said.

"Flats are all they have been building in Petersfield recently."

Other councillors voiced their "grave concern" about the plans, which would include a cycle store and bin storage.

George Watkinson said: "For the size of it, it must be for midgets - maybe they have small cars.

"I have got grave concerns about traffic in Barham Road and King George Avenue." And Aaron Baird added: "There is such a lack of space."

Similar plans to demolish number 20 King George Avenue and replace it with flats were scrapped last year amid fierce opposition from neighbouring residents.

Last week, a King George Avenue house owner slammed the renewed plans, which this time involve bulldozing neighbouring Wisteria Cottage.

Sharmoine Osborne said: "There will be no 'lungs' in the centre of Petersfield soon - much needed with the quickly increasing traffic.

"I just cannot see how we can call Petersfield a 'historic market town' when it is all flats. "I appreciate the pressure of Prescott, but do so many people have to live in boxes?"

"In my opinion this would be over development - too much green to be removed to flatten the two sites.

"This is one of the last quiet places left in Petersfield, and now it is to be flattened for high-density flats."

Mrs Osborne said she believed the 10 parking spaces allotted to the property in the latest plans would put further strain on Petersfield's creaking infrastructure.

"I understand the car parking area is for 10 cars. That will leave another 10 places required on the road," she said.

"With recent flats built in King George Avenue and Barham Road and the back of Boots, where is the space to be found for yet more cars?

"There is a lot of ill-feeling by Barham Road residents and permit holders about the number of cars and vans owned by the new housing association flats.

"The residents who do have permits can find nowhere to park at night."

But former town mayor Katie Pitt said she believed it was better to build up Petersfield rather than encroach on greenfield sites between the town and Portsmouth.

The plans are the latest in a long list of proposals for flat developments in the Petersfield area.

Last month, Charles Street residents joined forces against plans to build new flats on their road.

Other flats in the pipeline are planned for sites in Swan Street, Borough Road, the Causeway, The Spain and Chapel Street.