VILLAGERS have clashed with landowners over plans to start a wood-chipping business on a farm near Winchester.

It comes after permission was granted last month for a concrete-crusher to recycle building waste at Four Dell Farm on the eastern side of Otterbourne.

Residents are already challenging the crusher decision, and their case will be heard at the High Court in London on Friday.

They formed the Otterbourne, Compton and Shawford and Silkstead Association to fight the plan. They are now objecting to a scheme by the Venn family, which owns the site off Poles Lane, for a wood-chipping facility. Villagers raised concerns about noise, but the Venns argue that it will stop more than 30,000 tons of waste going to landfill.

The scheme was eventually approved by Hampshire County Council’s regulatory committee.