CAMPAIGNERS are re-igniting their struggle to save farmland on the edge of Winchester as civic chiefs edge closer to earmarking it for some 2,000 homes.

The Save Barton Farm Group fears that the city council is poised to say the farmland is the best spot if major development is required.

The group has been gathering names for a petition it was due to present to the full meeting of council yesterday (Wednesday).

Chairman Gavin Blackman said nothing was yet set in stone.

The council is due to con firm its crucial local development framework by the end of March.

Mr Blackman said it was time to resurrect their campaign. He said: “Over the past six months we have not done a lot of sabre-rattling, but between now and the end of March we will be doing a lot more to raise public awareness.

“We hope to refresh the debate.”

Cala Homes has long wanted to build on the land to the east of Weeke and Harestock.

Chris Slattery, for CPRE Hampshire, said: “We are hop ing that the city council will not include Barton Farm as a site for a minimum of 2,300 dwellings and associated buildings such as retail out lets, for the 20 year period of the South East Plan.

“We know that in 2007-08, 75per cent of new dwellings in the city were actually built on ‘windfall sites’, which are brownfield sites previously unallocated that had become available during the year.”

The proposed reserve site for housing at Barton Farm is strongly opposed by CPRE as it is a greenfield site.

CPRE advocates an approach to planning that says greenfield development should be considered as a last resort, focusing instead on proper Urban Capacity Studies to ensure that brownfield land is used first.