HAMPSHIRE County Council is trying to calm residents' fears about gravel extraction in and around the New Forest borders.

Cllr Mel Kendal, executive member for environment, and head of minerals and waste planning Richard Read sought to pour oil on troubled waters at a press briefing.

They said the main focus of extraction in the district until 2016 was at Plumley Wood and Bleak Hill on the Hampshire/Dorset border near Verwood.

These sites could yield six million tonnes of sand and ballast, well over the 5.5 million tonnes Hampshire is required to give during the period. But two or three extra sites may be needed to take the county's total quota of 10 million tonnes to the year 2020.

That would depend on the views of government planning inspector Stephen Pratt who, from January 23, will conduct a public inquiry into the county's mineral and waste development plans, said Mr Read.

"He could say that you have to provide even more, and that will be a matter of contention."

The county has had to plan ahead for every contingency and 17 potential sites have been located in the south west of Hampshire.

They have provoked strong public reaction and the formation of two new pressure groups to join Damage (Downton and Milford Against Gravel Extraction), set up to fight plans to dig gravel at Downton Manor Farm.

Walkford Residents Against Gravel Extraction (Wrage) is opposing plans for pits at Roeshot Hill and Walkford Farm.

Heritage (Hordle and Everton in Tandem Against Gravel Extraction) has been formed to oppose digging at Batchley Farm, Kings Farm, Leagreen Farm and Yeatton Farm.

Kings Farm and Batchley Farm are expected to be dropped, because the owners do not want to sell.

Other prospective sites are Ashley Manor Farm near New Milton, Ramley Farm near Pennington and Gordleton Farm.

The two or three additional pits could come from any of these, but that decision will not be made until next summer after the inspector's report is published.

And that is the time to make representations, said Cllr Kendal.

Plumley Wood pit is already lined up for landfill but Cllr Kendal pledged there would be no landfill at any other sites in south-west Hampshire.

"There is no need for them and we will go to judicial review if necessary."