CHANGES to plans for a 'green gas mill' at Sparsholt College have been "begrudgingly" approved by councillors.

The decision comes after the energy firm behind the scheme controversially announced it needed to reduce to the size of the site's education building.

Planning permission for the anaerobic digester at the college was granted by Winchester City Council's planning committee in October 2016.

Since then, applicant Ecotricity has said that due to the loss of nearly £2million in potential funding, the educational building has been scaled down in size.

The committee heard that the building itself would be reduced by around two-thirds in size, but both the applicant and Sparsholt College principal Tim Jackson maintain that the educational offering would not suffer.

However, concerns were still expressed by councillors and members of the public who felt the changes meant the facility was becoming an a commercial plant first, and educational facility second.

Cllr Eileen Berry said: "I don't think the college is getting the best it can get. The education centre is cheap and cheerful.

"I have grave reservations."

Council leader Cllr Caroline Horrill, as a Sparsholt ward councillor, objected to the changes had a statement read out to the committee, in which the lack of consultant advice sought by the council was criticised.

She said: "It is a matter of regret and concern that as an authority we have not sought professional guidance.

"On this we all think we are sufficiently well informed. What has driven four other authorities around the country to reject applications like this?"

During the meeting, concerns over tractors causing travel chaos in the area were also heard, but councillors were told that they could only consider the impact of the specific changes in this application, rather than the site as a whole.

As a result, Cllr David McLean told the committee: "My thoughts from 2016 have not changed. I'm going to have to vote [in favour], albeit begrudgingly."

Cllr Michael Read added: "I think the site will benefit to a degree. The students, I hope, will not lose out."

The committee approved the changes, which also included altering the type of digesters that would be used, relocating and resizing some of the infrastructure and changing the design of the accompanying education building, by five votes to one.

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