HAMPSHIRE villagers have vowed to keep fighting resurrected plans for a massive power plant near their homes.

More than 50 residents told a public meeting that new proposals for a so-called Green Gas Mill at Sparsholt College had not addressed their fears it will clog the village with traffic.

They fear the college's new plans are too similar to those previously rejected by councillors in April.

Stewart Wooles, vice chairman of Sparsholt Parish Council, told the meeting at Memorial Hall: "Apart from the transport plan, the resubmission is very similar to the previous version. It has not addressed our concerns."

The college claims its Green Gas Mill – an anaerobic digester which turns grass into gas – would produce power for nearly 5,000 homes a year.

However it would need 60,000 tonnes of fuel a year and Mr Wooles said that would mean 12,792 vehicle movements annually.

Green energy company Ecotricity, which is behind the plans, says these would be made by farmers with tractor and trailers within a 15-kilometre radius of the college.

But Micheldever farmer Douglas Paterson told the meeting this was not viable.

"I do not think they will transport the fuel with tractors and trailers. It will be lorries instead," he said.

"I don't know of many local farmers who have the equipment to transport 50 tons per time – which is what has been suggested by Ecotricity."

There were more than 200 objections for the original plans, which include an educational building where students will learn how to operate the machine. However, the parish council claims the students will not get any hands-on experience and has questioned why it has to be so big.

Winchester City Council planners threw out the original plan after ruling it was too big for the countryside and would create traffic problems.

Winchester city councillor for Wonston and Micheldever Caroline Horrill urged everyone at the meeting to object to the revised proposals.

"From a planning point of view, they have not addressed any of the planning issues in this resubmission," she said.

"I want the college to be prosperous and successful, but this is just a commercial operation."

When the plans were resubmitted, Sparsholt College principal Tim Jackson said: "There has been considerable work undertaken to address the main points of concern. While there has never been any intention to use their lanes as through routes, we’ve nonetheless introduced specific restrictions on roads through the villages to provide reassurance to the local community.

“The benefits of the Green Gas Mill and Renewable Energy Training Centre are massive. From helping Winchester district towards its renewable energy targets to training the next generation of green gas professionals in a growing industry, through to the financial benefits this project provides to the local farming community and rural economy.”