WORRIED campaigners say they fear plans for 175 new homes won’t be looked at by the Secretary of State before being built, leading to flooding and traffic congestion.

The A Better Ringwood group addressed members of the town council to ask if any decision had been made by the Secretary of State on whether to bring the Linden Homes and Hampshire County Council plan in or not.

The group says that despite the plan, which includes 87 ‘affordable’ homes, being approved by New Forest District Council for land off Crow Lane and Crow Arch Lane, their fears remain.

They say the number of homes, plus a hotel approved for the site, would lead to an extra 1,500 car movements a day and they say Linden’s plan, to introduce pinch points on Hightown Lane, will exacerbate the situation and lead to gridlock.

They are also concerned there are not enough three and four-bedroom properties among the affordable homes.

Tony Ring addressed the town council’s planning committee on behalf of A Better Ringwood group as they were concerned they had not heard anything regarding the plan.

He said concerns had been raised with MP Desmond Swayne regarding flooding, local distinctiveness and a Highways Authority assessment, which did not assess traffic impact for Hightown Hill and Noaule Lane.

The group had challenged that report, he said, as with 175 properties there would undoubtedly be an increase in traffic flow, with the access from the A31 becoming a rat run and causing an increase in potential problems. The plans were approved by eight votes to six after a long debate in April, despite more than 130 objections.

Cllr Jeremy Heron, who represents Ringwood, told the committee at the time: “Every single resident down there knows that what these people are saying is complete nonsense. This is going to create huge amounts of traffic.”

Deputy town clerk Jo Hurd told the meeting the district council had heard nothing and that the town council’s observations included a request for further work to be done on transport issues.

Councillors agreed that the council’s comments should be re-submitted to the Secretary of State and copied to New Forest District Council.

The scheme, which includes light industry provision, a hotel and a nursing home, could create as many as 260 jobs.