FORMER Mayor of Christchurch and noted local historian Michael Hodges has spoken out against proposed gravel extraction at Roeshot Hill.

Writing to Hampshire County Council in protest at the plans to include the site north of the A35 east of Christchurch in its list of preferred sites, Mr Hodges said Roeshot Hill was a nature reserve and part of the diminishing stock of heathland in the area.

He said the site was criss-crossed by footpaths and bridleways, contained numerous archaeological sites including barrows and was on the route of an ancient ley line, used to mark the farming calendar, linking Golden Hill at Hordle with Lodge Hill Barrow at Canford Heath.

Mr Hodges also pointed out that the Roeshot area was the source of several local watercourses including the River Mude which flows into Christchurch Harbour.

He also raised concerns over the loss of farmland, and the impact on the local ecology from insects, rats and seagulls attracted to the site if it were dug for gravel and then used as a landfill for rubbish dumping.

And Mr Hodges warned there would be added traffic dangers on a local road network not designed to cope with current vehicle numbers.

Peter Martin, chairman of Walkford Roeshot Against Gravel Extraction (WRAGE), said the proposed Walkford site had been removed from the list of preferred gravel extraction sites up to 2016.

"Roeshot has been reduced in size, which is obviously welcome, but nevertheless it is on the preferred location list," he said.

The amount of sand and gravel to come from the proposed site has been reduced to three million tonnes, less than double the amount previously suggested.

But Mr Martin warned that Dorset County Council is now preparing its mineral and waste plan and with the county's requirement for gravel, there is the potential for quarrying in the Waterditch and Burton areas.

Trevor Bradley of Hampshire County Council, said that though the Walkford site had been withdrawn from the list, there was nothing to stop the landowner applying for consent to dig for gravel there.

Hampshire County Council's consultation ends on December 12.

Christchurch Council has organised a public meeting on the plans in the United Reformed Church, Ringwood Road, Walkford at 7pm on Monday, December 3.