South Wonston parish chiefs are to appeal after Winchester City Council threw out plans for a new cemetery.

The parish is disappointed the planners rejected proposals for a burial ground on two acres of land off the Ox Drove near the water tower. It has been looking for a suitable site for several years since the

closure to new internments at Wonston Parish Church.

But the planning committee voted by nine votes to one against the scheme.

Members followed the guidance of the county council's highways

department which said the cemetery could cause a potentially dangerous increase in traffic.

The parish council disputes this as there would only be about four burials a year.

It said the junction is currently busy with walkers and horse riders travelling on the Ox Drove and service vehicles accessing the water tower and several mobile phone masts.

Parish councillor, Ann Peal, said the county council wanted road

improvements totalling £150,000 at the junction.

Mrs Peal said: "They want a refuge, a new footpath and the splays widened and properly surfaced. We feel they were being obstructive and over-zealous.

"We feel we have had unreasonable strictures placed on us. They have over-reacted to the scheme."

She said the nearby junction of Christmas Hill and Downs Road had seen accidents, but there had never been any Ox Drove.

City councillor, Barry Lipscombe, echoed her, saying: "If the county council is saying this road is dangerous they ought to put it right.

"Councillors are reluctant to go against the advice of their officers on highway matters."

Mrs Peal said there were no suitable sites nearer the village.