PETERSFIELD residents are up in arms this week over plans to build on land they claim suffers from flooding.

Leading the campaign against the proposed development on the corner of Cranford Road and Borough Road is Lee Edwards, who told The Herald: ÒThe trouble is that no one at the council will listen to us and this is going to be a case of Farringdon all over again.Ó

She told The Herald homes in Grange Road had suffered for years from flooding during heavy rain because the Southern Stream overran its banks and poured into gardens and over the land where a housing association plans to build.

She is concerned that the flats development will increase flooding problems for homes in Grange Road and likened it to the case in Farringdon village where homes had to be abandoned because they became flooded.

Mrs Edwards first objected to the plan when it was submitted by the East Hampshire Housing Association last September.

The association wanted to build a block of six units providing supported homes for single people but the plan has been delayed due to the need to appraise the risk of flooding of the site.

East Hampshire District Council says that the EHHA commissioned an environmental survey and has been talking with the Environment Agency about flooding problems.

Now amended plans have been resubmitted which show a bank around the base of the flats.

ÒIf they are allowed to do that it will cause even more problems,Ó Mrs Edwards told The Herald, Òbecause it will push the water even farther down the road.

ÒThe flood water will hit the bank and then it will carry on going. This is not a good plan at all.Ó

She has contacted the Environment Agency, which is investigating the matter and has already written to the district council objecting to the plan.

She has also visited all the residents in Grange Road explaining the importance of everyone voicing their concerns. She has also put posters through doors in Grange Road.

Mrs Edwards said the Southern Stream burst its bank five times last year, causing flooding in gardens along Grange Road Ð as illustrated in the picture of the gardens of 91 and 89 Grange Road.

ÒWe came near to another flood last week with all the heavy rain,Ó said Mrs Edwards, Òanother couple of inches and the water would have come over again.

ÒThe flooding has always been a problem here. The water pours into gardens all down Grange Road and even floods the grounds around the flats at the end of Borough Road. There have also been problems around the guide hut.Ó

Objectors have been given 14 days to write their formal letters to EHDC, said Mrs Edwards, but this information was delivered by second-class post.

ÒWeÕve only got ten days to get all our objections in,Ó she said.

She claimed flooding risk surveys had been carried out during the summer months when there was no rain.

ÒThe council is not listening to the people who have seen the floods, who know the problems and I am very annoyed about this.

ÒI feel they are going to push this plan through despite everything.Ó