Liz Leffman said “We have known for a long time that the SDA proposal is flawed. The consultation process has been very poorly managed and many people in the area that will be affected simply had no idea that this number of houses were planned. I am very pleased that the inspector supports our view of this and I am hopeful that the plans will now be scrapped. 

Jo White added: "The Liberal Democrat Focus Team will continue to fight to ensure that this badly thought through plan is shelved." 

Meon Valley campaigners Liz Leffman, Jo White and Cllr Peter Mason, and Eastleigh MP Chris Huhne, took their "Stop the Sprawl" petition to 10 Downing Street today. The petition has been signed by hundreds of residents angry at the lack of consultation over a proposed development of 6,000 houses in the area close to Botley, Borley Green, Durley and Curdridge, and calls on ministers to scrap building plans.

Ministers have admitted that the county council's consultation on the development was flawed, because residents did not receive adequate information, and many people were unaware that there was a consultation in progress.

Liz Leffman, prospective MP for Meon Valley, said "We need more affordable housing, but the proposal to build 6,000 houses in this rural area is out of proportion, and will destroy a tranquil and beautiful area of countryside. This top down development proposal has not been thought through, so the risk is that it will be a dormitory suburb with inadequate schools, surgeries, dentists and a lack of community spirit. It must be stopped".

Upham campaigner Jo White added "This is lovely rolling countryside that should not be spoiled by an ill-planned overspill town that will blight nearby village communities."