CAMPAIGNERS have vowed to keep up the fight against plans for a 'green gas mill' after a public meeting between residents and developers.

Up to 60 people are thought to have descended on Sparsholt's Memorial Hall last week where operator Ecotricity was addressing concerns.

It follows the submission of a planning application to alter approved plans for a so-called green gas mill at Sparsholt College.

The firm is seeking to alter the type of digesters that would be used, relocate and resize some of the infrastructure and change the design and appearance of the accompanying education building.

Sparsholt resident Paula Hill wrote in an objection: "I attended a public meeting with Ecotricity representatives last Thursday. I was really worried and disappointed by the lack of clarity.

"They originally stated no feed from outside a 15km radius. Last Thursday they said 'they hoped to not have to source from outside this area but that was just their ambition and if the straw yield was low one year, they would apply to get their feed from wider afield'.

"This is indicative of their plan – get the plant built and then keep changing the goalposts."

Environmental science student Isobel Hill added: "The education centre was supposed to be one of the key factors."

Vowing to keep up the fight, one campaigner, who did not wish to be named, admitted that nothing could be done to overturn the planning approved, but added that hopes of scuppering the development were not lost completely.

He told the Chronicle that by getting this application rejected, "they [would be] stuck with the original approval which may mean it's not financially viable".

As previously reported, Laura White, project manager, wrote to Winchester City Council planners to say that the education building needed to be scaled down in size due to the withdrawal of "nearly £2million of potential funding".

Following the meeting, Sparsholt College principal Tim Jackson said: "Sparsholt College wishes to make clear that the operator of the gas plant, Ecotricity, is required by legal agreement to involve Sparsholt College students.

"The Education Building approved to be constructed alongside the gas plant was a further addition to the opportunities for learning and skills.

"At its own expense, Ecotricity is prepared to pay for the construction of sizable, but lower cost, education building."

An Ecotricity spokesperson added: “It was really helpful to have an open discussion with local residents about our plans for the green gas mill at Sparsholt.

“Ecotricity is Britain’s greenest energy company and is committed to environmental issues, so will only use grass and straw sourced from within 15km of the site for the lifetime of the project.

“We will continue to engage with the public, parish council and local farmers as we progress with the site.”