A builder turned waste collector is hoping to convince his neighbours of his good intentions by outlining his plans.

James Judd, of The Old Tin Barn, Owslebury, upset villagers when he went into the waste disposal business last year.

He started selling "Hippobags" - large nylon bags - to households to fill with garden and building waste.

The bags were then put in a skip and taken to a dump.

But villagers voiced their objections to Winchester MP, Mark Oaten, Winchester City Council and Hampshire County Council.

Chairman of the parish council, Trish Le Voi, said they were opposed to the whole idea of a waste disposal business at The Old Tin Barn - a "gateway to the village".

She said: "They are worried about the health hazard, the noise, diesel fumes from the lorries - all close to property and an area that was shortly to be part of the new South Downs National Park.

"If he moves the business to a site outside Owslebury then I am sure everyone will be very pleased. We are not against his business, we just don't want it there."

In a letter to Mr Oaten, parish chiefs, residents, the city and county councils, Mr Judd said his new business had taken off quicker than expected, resulting in him renting office space at Winnall Manor Road in Winchester.

He had now applied for planning permission to site one skip for the waste at The Old Tin Barn and an area beside it to place the full bags.

But he said this should just be temporary.

"Our use of The Old Tin Barn was always intended to be a stopgap until alternative and more suitable premises could be found.

"We have now found a building which meets our needs and have a provisional relocation date of the beginning of March 2003. This means that all Hippobag activity will be relocated from The Old Tin Barn by early March."

Meanwhile, he promised there would not be more than one skip at The Old Tin Barn, to route vehicles away from the village to the Corhampton Road and not to sell HippoBags from the Old Tin Barn or take delivery of rubbish there.

Mr Judd said he was negotiating to buy land that could be used as a waste transfer site to sort rubbish into recyclables and landfill but he declined to say where.

At present, the waste was not sorted, just dumped.