A CONTROVERSIAL power plant is set to be built at Sparsholt College.

The new plans for a so-called Green Gas Mill at Sparsholt College have been given the green light after approval by planning chiefs.

The college claims the plant – an anaerobic digester which turns grass into gas – can produce power for nearly 5,000 homes a year.

It would need 60,000 tonnes of fuel to do this which green energy company Ecotricity, who is behind the plans, said would be sourced within a 15-kilometre radius of the college and transported by tractor and trailers.

However many local residents are furious at the plans and argued that facility would cause a huge increase in traffic and had concerns about tractors and trailers using small roads, they also questioned the schemes green credentials.

Sparsholt College say the facility will also an educational facility to train the next generation of green gas engineers.

Back in April the plans were rejected due to traffic issues, but the college and the Ecotricity came back with a revised plan which is subject to a Section 106 agreement with 32 planning conditions.

Winchester City Council planning committee heard from ward councillor for Sparsholt Caroline Horrill who was against the scheme.

Cllr Horrill argued that the scheme was unpopular with 7 parish councils who represent more than 7,000 residents, and said many people who support the application do not live near it.

Cllr Horrill said: "No amount of Section 106 will protect the villages on the traffic forced upon them.

"It is a commercial enterprise dressed up as an educational establishment."

Also heavily against it and speaking in public was councillor Eileen Berry.

Cllr Berry said: "It is an encroachment on the countryside and I have never seen such an ugly building."

Councillors voted eight to one in favour of the facility, and many felt the traffic issues had been dealt with by the revised application.

Winchester city councillor Ian Tait was one of them and said: "If we accept the issues of a changing climate because of carbon usage we can't have an environmentally friendly solution without some detrimental aspects, we can't have our cake and eat it.

"I think this application is in all respects a high quality application."

While councillor Ernie Jeffs alongside Cllr Michael Read said they felt the traffic aspects had been dealt with in the revised application.

Speaking after the decision, college principal Tim Jackson said: "I am delighted that the planning committee have dealt carefully, professionally and objectively with the evidence and come to a logical and good decision.

"I think it is a very important centre that we are going going to establish at the college to focus on the needs of professions and jobs of the future the renewable sector.

Mr Jackson added he hopes that they can address any concerns that residents will have in the future.