Residents are concerned that emergency services will not be able to reach them if planning permission is granted for an extra house on their road.

However, the applicant thinks that "none of them have a really strong reason" for complaining about the development in Raynes Park.

Residents of Woodlands, which leads off Southway, in Raynes Park, are concerned about the impact that the extra cars will have on the already difficult parking situation on their road.

One resident, Jean Samsun, 71, said: "It’s been a concern for a long time about fire engines, ambulances and police, and refuse collections often can’t get down because the entrance to the road is very narrow, and people have to be parked on the pavement because there is no room for double parking.

"So if they can’t get through and there’s a fire then we would have a real issue.

"I think it deserves failing it not just for ourselves but for the impact it could have on our neighbourhood, because we are so privileged to live in such a lovely area."

Another resident, Lizzy Callegari, 61, agrees. She said: "I don’t know how long it will take them to build, but the extra trucks mean we will have chaos all that time.

"By increasing the density of housing here you are going to increase the number of cars.

"It’s going to cause more problems and stop emergency services getting through.

"If they approve them we would probably go further. I don’t know what the options are but we don’t want it, simple as that, and if necessary we will fight to prevent it. Many of us have lived here for years."

The proposals include plans for an extension to two properties in Southway, as well as the building of a three bedroom house in the garden of the properties.

Close to 30 separate objections have been registered on Merton Council's website, with many of them citing parking as a key concern if the development goes ahead.

However, applicant Ross Dumych, 38, who works for the firm HR Construction, insists that they will be building space for another car to park on the property.

He said: "One hour they complain there are not enough houses in London, and the next half an hour they are accusing you of building one. I don’t know what to say.

"The neighbours have built an extension. It’s not that we are doing something illegal.

"The house will be cheaper than the other houses here. It means somebody can afford to buy it. If someone can buy the house, maybe some young family, then it is a good thing."

Mr Dumych added: "I will appeal if I don’t get the application. I will appeal and then I will appeal again. When I read all these complaints, none of them had a really strong reason.

"They like to complain, they have nothing else to do. Instead of working hard and making money, they complain."

See the application, with reference number 15/P2369, at http://www.merton.gov.uk/environment/planning.htm