SHEDFIELD Parish Council is gearing up to battle a controversial planning application which is "the biggest thing" to ever happen in the village.
TJ Transport is seeking Hampshire County Council's permission to use land at Five Oaks Farm for the winning and working of up to 230,000 tonnes of soft sand – turning it into a quarry and landfill site. If approved, this will be completed over six years.
But local residents and councillors are worried about the impact it will have on the village.
Cllr Francesca Byrne, who has lived in the village since 1985, told the Chronicle: "This is the biggest thing we have been faced with. There has been sand mining here, historically, but it has always been much more discreet.
"Here, TJ Transport are looking set up on a busy s-bend within walking distance of a primary school at the bottom of people's gardens.
"We worry that the dust will be dangerous particularly when drifting over the dreadful main road, the noise will effect people nearby and also the ecology and archaeology side of things.
"The meadow of course is home to wildlife and habitat, and it backs onto the golf course. I did a dig there a couple of years back and we excavated Romano-British archaeology.
"There is a lot more to come here and this is a serious matter."
Shedfield Parish Council, which represents Shedfield, Waltham Chase and Shirrell Heath, is currently seeking expert advice to back its objection.
It believes that it is unlikely the site entrance meets highways standards. It could be unsafe for use by large vehicles.
A Hampshire County Council planning officer said hundreds of public objections have already been received but there is a delay in publishing them.
Residents have set up a Facebook page called 'Stop the Quarry at Five Oaks Farm in Shedfield'; launched a petition to stop the plans which has nearly 1,700 signatures; and started a Crowdfunding page to raise £5,000 for Help Shedfield Community Group.
They will use the money to stop the plans.
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