A TRAIL-BLAZING move to give Hampshire farmers a permanent shop at Botley has been stopped in its tracks.

Hampshire Fare wanted to convert and extend barns in Woodhouse Lane into a local food centre.

As well as boosting the village's economy, it would have also created about 10 jobs.

Hailed as the first venture of its kind in the UK, it would have built on the success of the farmers' markets which have sprung up across the county.

But the pioneering plan suffered a major blow when Eastleigh councillors refused outline planning permission.

Planners were worried that the scheme would "physically and visually diminish" the prized green gap between Hedge End and Botley.

Hampshire Fare wanted to develop three redundant barns as a business enterprise training centre with storage and distribution facilities, a shop and a caf/restaurant.

The landscaped centre, on a one-hectare site, would have had outside demonstration areas and would have also given around 150 local food producers product development and training facilities.

Plans had included a technical kitchen area and space for food storage, along with the chance to sell, market and distribute products in a bid to compete with the supermarkets.

The proposal sparked off a sharply divided debate at the meeting of the Hedge End, West End and Botley Local Area Committee.

Botley Parish Council chairman Councillor Colin Mercer warned that if the proposal went ahead it would hit Botley's small shops and businesses.

Councillor Rupert Kyrle said: "This is the first of its kind in the United Kingdom but why does it need to be slap right in the middle of the countryside? There must be a more appropriate site."

Councillor Jane Welsh believed that it was a unique opportunity for Botley to gain something.

There was also support for the farm shop centre scheme from Councillor Steve Broomfield, who said: "It could improve business in Botley and is a very good way of improving healthy eating."

Eastleigh Borough Council leader Councillor Keith House said it was a great scheme but was in the wrong place. He left the door open for the developer by saying: "Come back with a workable scheme on the right site."