A PLANNING application to transform land in Sherfield-on-Loddon into a residential family gypsy pitch with utility/day-room has been met with opposition.

The site in Dixon Road has long been contentious as in 2014 more than 500 trees were illegally felled on the site and the land owners were fined and forced to restock the site.

However, now GreenPlanning Studio, acting on behalf of the landowner has submitted the application for the pitch to Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council.

Councillor Venetia Rowland, councillor for Bramley and Sherfield, said one of the issues would be the amount of traffic on the road.

Cllr Rowland said: “Firstly they do not have the right of way on the land because it is old MOD land.

“Also the road isn’t even an access road and the volume of traffic will just cause chaos.”

This decision has been met with frustration by residents who have submitted comments to the council’s planning department.

One resident said: “This site was of public interest and housed bats and other wildlife, along with historical pill boxes, until without authorisation the tree’s where felled.”

Martin Rose, of Brockham Grange, said: “I cannot support this decision in any way, shape or form. Not only will it disrupt an already busy road with ongoing work.

“I believe that it will also disrupt stability of the surrounding areas as well.”

The application states the proposal will not have an effect on the surrounding area, as had been previously thought.

The proposal said: “The applicant is aware of the Restocking Notice no. RN05/14-15 under the Forestry Act 1967, which affects wider area of the site.

“The proposed development has been designed to be outside the area affected by the notice.”

The application is due to be decided on by Monday, August 28. For more information and to comment, go to /planning.basingstoke.gov.uk and search using the code 17/02123/FUL.