BASINGSTOKE MP Maria Miller is calling for a halt to the building works at the site of serious flooding recently.

Days of torrential rain left Old Kempshott Lane, in Basingstoke, flooded as rivers of muddy water streamed off the fields nearby, where an archaeological survey is taking place in advance of a major housing development.

Mrs Miller said: "I believe that further excavation work on this site has to be halted until the flooding problem is resolved. It's unacceptable that, yet again, it is local residents who pay for ill-thought-through development plans."

Residents have also criticised Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council's decision to allow other building projects to take place while the archaeological survey is being carried out.

Old Kempshott Lane resident Lynn Deevoy, 49, said even before the flood, neighbours had lost patience with the number of lorries and the dirt on their road.

More than 300 homes are currently planned for the field opposite the lane. Developer Antler Homes Wessex is also currently building 13 homes on another plot of land in the lane, and further down, Worting Infant School is being converted into 45 homes.

She said: "We can hardly get in and out of our driveways. We had a letter from the council saying that the builders have to use their own land for staff vehicles and for loading and unloading lorries, but none of them have taken the instructions into consideration."

Resident Julie Stone, whose 12-year-old son walks along the road to go to school in the morning, said: "I'm worried someone is going to get killed.

"If it's like this now, what will it be like when building work starts on the main site?"

Barratt Southern Counties, which is building the 300 homes, has reassured residents that measures will be taken to prevent further nuisance.

Regional manager Gary Ennis said: "Before commencing construction work, we will construct a haulage road on the site to minimise any disruption to traffic."

The borough council has also defended its decision to grant planning permission for the three sites as it was unaware that all works would be carried out at the same time.

Council spokeswoman Sophia Waite-King added: "The archaeological survey does not have to comply with conditions of the planning permission and, therefore, no conditions have been breached."

Problems in Tadley caused by the downpours have also yet to be resolved. Furze Road has remained flooded for several days.

Jacqueline Wills, 46, said she was unable to get out of her house in Furze Road as her driveway and parts of the road were flooded.

She said: "On Monday and Tuesday, the water came right up to the front door.

"We had sandbags delivered when the road was flooded six or seven years ago. But this time, authorities haven't done anything."