DEVELOPERS have been forced to halt the demolition of a former social club that was built on top of a Quaker burial ground.

Civic chiefs approved plans to replace the Fordingbridge Club with eight homes and a shop - but said strict conditions must be met before work started.

Beechvale Construction recently bought the land from the previous owner and began to bulldoze the old club.

But the company has been told to stop work by New Forest District Council in a move that has left shoppers and traders staring at a half-demolished building on a rubbish-strewn site.

Now Fordingbridge residents are calling for a speedy resolution to the dispute amid fears it could drag on for months.

A New Forest District Council spokesman said: "The site is located in a conservation area and is of historical and archaeological significance.

"Permission for residential development was granted subject to a number of conditions, including details of landscaping, archaeological work and surface water drainage.

"The developer has been asked not to carry out any further work until all the details have been agreed by the planning authority." Fordingbridge councillor Ann Sevier said the site was a former Quaker graveyard.

She added: "I was horrified to discover that planning conditions imposed to protect the history of the town and the site itself had not been compiled with.

"I'm very pleased that a Stop Notice has been issued."

Asked about the current state of the site she added: "It's not the council's fault. Nevertheless I hope a speedy resolution can be found."

Beechvale said it started to clear the site because the former club had been targeted by squatters and arsonists and was already an eyesore.

Owner Jason Hacker said: "The reason for the premature demolition was simply health and safety - the building was in a dangerous state of repair.

"After being told to stop I contacted the council and tried to explain about the squatters, the fires and the fact that neighbours were pleased the building was finally going, but the person I spoke to wasn't having any of it.

"We're now in June and nothing's been agreed. I'm dealing with 19 conditions relating to things such as structural drawings, drainage drawings and planting schemes."

The housing scheme was approved by the council in July last year.