VILLAGERS campaigning against plans to turn a field into a landfill site in a narrow country lane will make a final protest to county planners today.

The protesters are expected to turn up in force to a meeting of Hampshire County Council's regulatory panel, which is due to make a decision on the application this morning.

Last month the panel delayed its decision so members could visit the site in Steplake Lane, Sherfield English, near Romsey, and investigate traffic issues.

Residents fear that if given approval the site will bring in up to 75 lorries a day, putting children using a nearby play area, horseriders, cyclists and walkers in danger in the narrow lane.

Landowner Perman Dovey, of Sherfield English Road, Plaitford, was originally granted permission to dump recycled soil on the site in a bid to raise land levels to improve drainage in June. Now he wants permission to replace some of that soil with 65,500 cubic metres of construction and demolition waste, including concrete and bricks.

Mandy Harfield, 45, of Sherfield English Lane, said: "Six or seven people are going to make representations to the panel against the proposal. It's crunch time.

"Everybody's just holding their breath at the moment really. It's just a question of whether Test Valley Borough Council and Hampshire County Council have done their homework with the highways issue."

Protesters have also suggested that rubbish dumped on the site could contaminate a nearby stream.

Despite villagers' concerns, consultants for Mr Dovey say the landfill site will not significantly increase the number of vehicles using Steplake Lane.