HUNDREDS of letters have been sent objecting to council plans to build new affordable homes.

Bournemouth council is seeking permission from its planning department to build 14 four-bedroom houses on a patch of scrubland to the rear of 72-100 Moorside Road in West Howe.

The borough says the land was deemed "surplus to requirements" as open space in a 'Leisure Strategy' document of 2009.

The new houses would be "arranged as six pairs of semi-detached houses and two detached houses", all with gardens, the council says in its application, with 34 parking spaces and a new access road.

The council has been criticised recently for building only a handful of affordable homes over the past year.

Yet many residents are opposed to the scheme, with 205 letters of objection received.

In a letter to the planning board, Elaine Cade of Willow Tree Rise said: "This is a beautiful piece of land with natural wildlife and slow worms on it.

"It is treasured by local residents and previously had a little park for children on it (a shame this was not well maintained).

"Rather than destroy this wonderful piece of land and build houses on what I would think a most unsuitable site on a slope, it would be better to put some benches there so people could enjoy the land and families could have picnics."

And Stephen Hill-knight of Moorside Road West said: "I object to the building of these houses on the open land directly behind my house.

"I don't want the houses looking directly into my windows and the inevitable playing behind my walled garden.

"No matter how careful you say you are the wildlife will be displaced or lost altogether. The building works, heavy lorries, are they going to be quiet, I think not.

"I'm sure you would never let them do it around your house, just others because it doesn't affect you one bit."

In its application the council says the former playground was closed several years ago as "Kinson/West Howe was densely served with playgrounds"

"The council has invested in playgrounds and facilities for young people in Kinson North and Kinson South with good play and skate facilities at Moore Avenue Park, Poole Lane, Turnbull Close, Fairways Estate, Riggs Gardens, Slades Farm and Kinson Common.

"Local access to more informal spaces such as Turbary Common and Kinson Common is also good, where children can ride bikes and play without the need for fixed equipment."

It adds: "The development at Moorside Road will generate some funds that will be used to improve local greenspace – in all likelihood at Moore Avenue Park or Fernheath."

The scheme will be discussed by the planning board on Monday (MAR 19) at 2.30pm.