Two plans which offer sports facilities alongside new housing were debated at a special meeting of Romsey Extra Parish council last Thursday.

More than 60 people attended the meeting to discuss plans for 275 homes plus sports pitches and changing facilities at Ganger Farm to the north east of Romsey and another scheme for 116 homes plus an indoor sports hall at Highwood Lane to the east of the town.

The majority of the public present had come to voice their concerns over the Foreman Homes outline application for Highwood Lane.

Council chairman Chris Wesson said “A number of people spoke against the scheme and how it would affect their way of life.”

Mr Wesson said several people pointed to the fact that the site was prone to flooding.

Councillors voted unanimously to object to the application Mr Wesson told the Advertiser that the council’s main concern about the scheme was that the 23-acre site fell within an area designated as a green gap between Romsey and North Baddesley.

The Ganger Farm scheme, proposed by David Wilson and Barratt Homes, was less contentious.

Concerns were raised about an increase in traffic and the impact of floodlighting but there were few present who were dead set against the scheme.

“There is generally a feeling that it would be good for Romsey,” said Mr Wesson, who added that it was widely accepted that Romsey was short of sports pitches.

The councillors voted by four to zero, with two abstentions, to back the plan, but it was agreed that in their submission to Test Valley Borough Council, they would call for measures to control the hours that floodlights could be used.