PROTESTERS fighting controversial development plans in their Hampshire village will have to wait at least another month for the battle to be decided.

Last night, planners at Test Valley Borough Council deferred a decision on an application by fibre-optic cable firm Southampton Photonics for Chilworth Science Park.

Members of the Southern Area Planning Committee were unhappy that no tree officer was present at the meeting, as the application involved felling a double avenue of 100-year-old lime trees.

Although Southampton Photonics has applied for permission to build offices for research and development, councillors were confused by the fact the building will employ 200 staff. Cllr Craig Lewis said: "It does not look like research and development, it looks like manufacturing."

Science Park managing director Don Fox said: "This is a proposal for a research and development centre with some light manufacturing, entirely in line with the activities permitted for the site. It's not principally for manufacturing - that will be occurring at Hedge End."

Chilworth resident John Carter said villagers were worried about the increased traffic 200 employees would create on the A27.

Chilworth ward councillor Anne Burrows said: "To destroy or damage any part of the lime tree walk would be nothing less than an act of vandalism and a public scandal. The use, design and position of this development would be inappropriate."