SHEET villagers are fighting to safegaurd the future of a green field which was bulldozed without planning permission earlier this summer.
The Village Association is lobbying East Hampshire District Council planners to keep their eyes on Churchfield, which stands behind Sheet Church.
They are also waiting for the results of a special survey being carried out by Sparsholt College which they hope will show that a protected species of crayfish lives in the stream close by.
VillagersÕ fears were aroused earlier this summer when the designated green field was bulldozed flat over the weekend.
Last year owners of the field, NW Holdings, tried to have it included in East Hampshire District CouncilÕs Local Plan for housing.
Members of Sheet church backed the move hoping that the development would include a new church hall.
The developers failed in their bid to have the land earmarked for housing.
Villagers said this summer they feared developers were ÒtrashingÓ the land to make it appear more like a brownfield site to ease the road to planning permission.
They reported the matter to EHDC and planning enforcement notices were served on the owner ordering them to stop work.
But this week Lucy Pringle, speaking for the Village Association, said there was still deep concern over the future of the land.
ÒNot only are we concerned to keep this a green field site but we are worried about the fine ecological balance in this stretch of the western Rother.Ó
Although the owners have been ordered to re-grass the land this has not yet happened.
ÒOur concern is that this appears to be a brownfield site instead of a designated greenfield site,Ó said Mrs Pringle.
ÒAbout six feet of banking was delved out which has now been filled in - with what we do not know - and we fear this may find itself into the river.Ó
She feared that the brown trout and crayfish could be in danger.
Mrs Pringle said it was hoped that the survey by Sparsholt College would strengthen villagersÕ case for special protection of the field.
ÒWe feel this is a very special area, which is currently at risk - if it was developed it would be disastrousÓ she told The Herald.
District Enforcement Manager for EHDC Lesley Wells said that the company who owned the land had been ordered to return it to its former condition and the situation would be monitored by the CouncilÕs planning enforcement team to ensure compliance.
The chairman of EHDCÕs south planning committee Sue Halstead added: ÒThe councilÕs resolute action has resulted in a requirement for the company to carry out costly remedial works. This should be seen as a warning to any other company or individual seeking to benefit from undertaking unauthorised development within the district.Ó