RESIDENTS who have endured more than four years of water works in their road are objecting to a new development.

Holton Homes is seeking planning permission to demolish the chalet bungalow at 24 Percy Road, Bournemouth, and build a block of five flats.

The scheme has been recommended for approval by council planning officers, and is due to be discussed by councillors on Monday as there have been 14 letters of objection.

One, sent by David Brown, said: "This will be a new build in an area where no new properties have been erected over the last 60 years and will not fit in with either the conservation area.

"It will be to the detriment of the character and appearance of the area.

"In addition to this the amenities such as sewerage and roads are already struggling to cope with this area of Percy road having been closed for 20 months due to subsidence."

And Amy Lucey said: "I’m glad the application for eight flats was rejected but even six flats is ludicrous. The “plot/area” should remain as a family home as is."

The Civic Society has also objected, but council officers say the scheme, revised down from an earlier application for six flats, "would have an acceptable impact on the character and appearance of the Boscombe Manor Conservation Area, whilst providing additional housing, in order to meet the targets set by central government".

Percy Road has been closed on and off for the past four years while Wessex Water has sought to solve a recurring problem of subsidence caused by a leaking sewer pipe.

The meeting is at 2.30pm.