PLANNING chiefs are fighting proposals to turn part of the New Forest into a giant gravel pit.
A large area of green belt land between Lymington and New Milton is under threat from an application to extract 810,000 tonnes of sand and gravel.
New Milton Sand and Ballast is seeking consent to remove about 150,000 tonnes a year over a six-year period.
Families living near the 17-hectare site at Downton Manor Farm in Christchurch Road, Downton, have launched a campaign to defeat the scheme.
Yesterday the district council's planning and development control committee joined the battle by agreeing to raise an objection to the application, which will be determined by Hampshire County Council.
Members said the site was near Shorefield Caravan Park and warned that the scheme could have an adverse impact on the local tourist industry.
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