THE head of a Petersfield watchdog has called for a shopping street to be flattened in a bid to ease a housing shortfall.

Tony Struthers has urged planners "to be radical" amid fears that long-term housebuilding targets are woefully short.

Mr Struthers told The Petersfield Society last Wednesday that residents had to accept and prepare for more housing around the town.

But his ideas could raise eyebrows as they include levelling and rebuilding Lavant Street into a bigger retail and housing complex.

For full story, see this week's Petersfield Herald.