A CAMPAIGN was launched by Petersfield residents this week to fight plans for a liquid waste depot in Borough Road.
The residents are concerned about plans by Hampshire County Council to install a waste transfer station, to be managed by Raynesway Construction Southern. They fear it could bring traffic hazards, noise, unwanted smells, water pollution and vermin.
A spokesman for the county council said the station would deal with gulley waste – largely silt from drains and roads.
"Under new government landfill directives, liquid waste can no longer go direct to landfill sites so it has to go to transfer stations, where the liquid is drained off and the dried waste is then transferred."
Residents claim the plan is totally unsuitable in a residential area.
Now East Hampshire District Council looks set to back their campaign at its planning meeting on Thursday.
Planning officer Joanne Riley is recommending councillors to make a strong objection to the county council's planning department.
Neighbours are worried the plan could lead to a vermin problem as well as noise, smells and water pollution. They also claim that there would be a potential danger from increased traffic.
Peter Bennett, of Osier Road, is the campaign leader. He has distributed posters urging neighbours to "Say No to the Waste Transfer Station".
He is urging them to make their objections to the district council and contact their councillors for support.
He told The Herald: "These brand new 21st century houses have been built here in a new street. This area is supposed to be for housing and then they start talking about a waste transfer station. It was pretty alarming when we heard about it."
One of the major concerns, said Mr Bennett, was over vermin.
"We were told the county council does not envisage vermin and if there is a problem it will use pesticides, but it would be goodbye to any of our cats which got in there."
Mr Bennett said it was also unclear how deep the water gulleys were. "We are worried that water is going to get into the drains and seep into our gardens. We are told there is no danger but we are living off people's assurances."
Mr Bennett said there was much cynicism among residents about the outcome of the plan.
"This site is used by Hampshire County Council as a highway depot and it is another county council department that will have to access the application and decide whether or not to give permission."
The south planning committee of East Hampshire District Council is being recommended to make a strong objection to the plan on the grounds that the site is in a residential area and is served by residential roads that run past schools or through a conservation area.
In addition, the proposal appears to involve additional traffic, which in the district council's opinion would result in an unacceptable over-intensive use of the site, giving rise to excessive noise and traffic disturbance and raising public safety issues on the roads.