A RECYLING firm’s proposals to legally take over an old sawmill in a Test Valley village have come under huge criticism from residents.

SO Recycle, alongside manufacturer Formtek, has lodged an application to change the use of the former Penton Sawmills, in Penton Mewsey, to a general industrial/storage and distribution site.

The former timber mill, in Newbury Hill, ceased operations in November 2019 and since August 2022 the two companies have occupied the site.

However, in October 2022 planning enforcement officer Steve Payne warned the site’s owner that planning permission was needed for an office building that was being used by SO Recycling.

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It was also noted that the only lawful use of the site was as a sawmill and a condition existed on the original permission precluding any other use – meaning that the two firms were in breach of this.

A planning document stated: “The applicant and the local planning authority agreed that the most sensible way forward would be the submission of a new application across the entire site, effectively ‘wiping the slate’ clean of any historic restrictions.”

The application has sparked backlash from residents, with more than 100 comments lodged with Test Valley Borough Council.

Jemma Fisher, of Newbury Hill, said: “Since the occupation of SO Recycling at Penton Sawmills we have seen a vast increase in the number of ridiculously large HGVs travelling through the village and up Newbury Hill.

"This morning a huge HGV attempted to come through the historic village causing huge disruption. These vehicles are simply not appropriate for our small village lanes and conservation area.”

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Kathy Percival, of Home Farms Gardens, Charlton, wrote: “The sawmill site has been used without planning permission for nearly a year. During that time drivers of considerable numbers of very large vehicles have gained access to the site by going through the narrow lanes of Penton Mewsey and Charlton.

"These roads are country lanes and are not built for these large vehicles. Apart from damage to the roads and boundaries they are restricting the normal use of everyday villagers walking and cycling routes to the peaceful countryside.”

Karen Newel, of Hatherden Road, Charlton, added: “The increase of noise pollution, air pollution will create an additional unnecessary disruption to the local neighbourhood.

"There are currently too many heavy goods vehicles overall and mainly currently not abiding by local speed restrictions and taking up too much road space in the village. The vehicles are not welcome. This will contribute to a bigger problem.”

The applicant argues that the site generates a “relatively modest number of trips per day”, stating that of 56 two-way trips per day, the majority are staff movements, adding that only 11 are HGVs.

“The applicant is aware of the concerns of local residents who oppose larger vehicles routing through nearby villages. Whilst these concerns are acknowledged, these impacts are not ‘severe’ and do not make the application proposals unacceptable,” the planning document added.

In 2022 the Romsey-based company So Recycle Ltd lodged an application to store and operate heavy goods vehicles from the railway sidings in Micheldever Station, but this was withdrawn in August last year.