TRIBUTES have been paid to a dedicated councillor who "fought tirelessly" for a Waterside village threatened by unwanted development.

This week's meeting of Marchwood Parish Council took place just hours after members learned that Nick Smith had been found hanged at his home.

Cllr Smith - a parish and district councillor for Marchwood - had spent months fighting plans to build a huge container terminal at Dibden Bay.

He had also campaigned for measures that would reduce the impact of a power station and an incinerator planned for adjoining sites at Marchwood Industrial Park.

Parish council chairman Carolyn Bianchi said: "Nick clearly cared for the people of Marchwood.

"Over the past 25 years the village has had more than its fair share of problems."

Cllr Bianchi said Cllr Smith "must have run himself ragged" during his campaign against the Dibden Bay proposals submitted by Associated British Ports.

She added: "He fought tirelessly for Marchwood."

Fellow parish councillor Alan Shotter said: "I was absolutely shocked when I heard the news of his death. Nick's enthusiasm was second to none."

Last year Cllr Smith made several appearances at the 120-day public inquiry that examined every aspect of ABP's proposal to develop Dibden Bay.

He claimed that extra traffic on the A326 would lead to more vehicles using narrow village roads, some of which had no pavements. He also warned that any increase in rail traffic would cut the community in two.

Maureen Robinson, leader of the opposition Liberal Democrat group on the district council, said: "The news of Nick Smith's death has deeply shocked me. He was a determined opponent in the council chamber. He had a vivid personality and was clearly driven by deeply-held political views."

Away from the council Cllr Smith was spokesman for the New Forest Hounds. Chairman Mike Squibb said: "He worked tirelessly for the organisation and was a valuable member of our executive committee."