AMENDED plans to extract clay at Selborne Brickworks and reinstate the land to agricultural use are set to be submitted to the county council.

Forestry International Exports Ltd applied for planning permission from Hampshire County Council in February to carry out the operation over the next 36 years.

However, the proposals were met with fierce opposition from neighbouring villagers, the parish council and the district council.

But, this week a county council spokesperson told The Herald that the company was expected to submit an amended planning application.

ÒThe new application is to put in a new access road after some concerns about the original access point,Ó said Julia Herron.

ÒIt will take it up to Chapel Farm which would exclude Latchford Lane.Ó

The new plans come after Selborne Parish Council raised objection to the proposals fearing for the impact the operation would have on the surrounding roads, the proposed South Downs National Park and surrounding businesses.

For, although the council supports the making of tiles and bricks it does not back the exporting of clay.

East Hampshire District Council opposed the proposals on similar grounds.

In objecting to the plans under delegated powers case officer Diane Sinkinson said that the proposal would have a ÒsignificantÓ impact on the proposed national park and would result in an ÒunacceptableÓ increase in traffic.

ÒThe proposed area for clay extraction is outside the preferred area for clay extraction and is contrary to adopted local plan policy and structure plan policies for development in the countryside,Ó her report said.

ÒThe council raised an objection to this site at the local plan stage preferring land to the north which was upheld at the inquiry. A significant part of the western extension of the clay pits is adjacent to the national park and the proposal would have significant impact on the national park.

ÒThe councilÕs landscape officer confirms that the proposed workings should not have a permanent or visually significant detrimental impact on the landscape. Extensive planting is proposed and further screen planting is proposed along Honey Lane.

ÒIt is understood that the county raise no objections providing the extracted clay is just supplying the brickworks. However, concerns are raised regarding how this would be controlled to prevent/limit exportation of the clay, also the rate of extraction so that it does not become a landfill site in the future.

ÒThe operation of the clay extraction would result in an increase in traffic movements issues.

ÒIt is clear that the heavy vehicles that currently use the site do cause some damage to the surrounding roads and verges. There is no restriction in the extant planning consent on the number of vehicle movements associated with the operations.

ÒTherefore, the existing authorised use of the site must be taken into consideration when determining this proposal.

ÒAt a recent meeting of the Selborne Brickworks Landfill Liaison Panel the county council advised that a lorry count had taken place and 150 lorries were counted on one survey day.

ÒThis raises concerns regarding the cumulative impact of the existing and proposed extraction levels causing nuisance and disturbance to existing residential properties within the area. Therefore objections are raised on highway safety grounds.Ó