MORE than £50 million could be pumped into the local economy every year by its use, but fresh criticism has been aired over a controversial eco-gas station.

Sparsholt College wants to work with green electricity company Ecotricity to build a renewable energy plant.

Plans have now been submitted.

The “green gas mill” – which turns grass into gas by boiling it – is expected to produce power for the equivalent of around 5,000 homes a year, including the college. It would also contribute to the National Gas Grid.

The college says the mill will pump £3million into the economy every year of its 20 years' life.

However, residents are concerned about extra traffic and the routes chosen to transport the fuel – cut grass and rye feedstock supplied from local farmland.

Sue Wood, chairman of Sparsholt Parish Council said they were waiting for Ecotricity to address some questions.

“We raised more than 50 questions to enable us to understand exactly how this application would affect residents and surrounding villages,” she added.

“Ecotricity, to be fair, did answer questions put to them (at the meeting). We have a very open mind and just want to understand what impact it will have."

“Although we received answers to most of the questions, we were told the remainder would be addressed when the application was submitted.

“However, the full planning application is still not available to us until it has been validated by Winchester City Council’s Planning Department. When that becomes available, we will be able to comment further.”

The application will be validated within the next two weeks.

As part of the partnership, Ecotricity will finance and build the mill with an initial £10 million investment. They will then help fund the development of a renewable energy centre, where the college can train students.

Sparsholt College principal Tim Jackson, said: “We have addressed residents’ concerns in the planning application and can reassure people that the green gas mill will only receive normal farm traffic."

“We will ensure deliveries don’t happen during peak traffic times, tractors stick to main roads wherever possible and do not go through Sparsholt village.”

Up to eight specialist jobs will be created to run the Green Gas mill, while new supply contracts with farmers, providing run it, will also reinforce existing jobs.

Mr Jackson added: “The Green Gas Mill will be a key component in the College’s development of a Centre of Excellence that will produce specialist professionals to work for the green gas industry, training engineers, plant managers and technicians in what is a growth area across the agriculture, energy, waste, water and food processing sectors.

A public exhibition will be showcased at Westley Court, Sparsholt College on February 9 from 1pm to 8pm. Members of the planning team will be there to discuss the proposal and answer questions.