Campaigners have been offered expert help in their fight to stop a massive warehouse being built between Fleet and Farnborough.

Rushmoor Borough Council will provide consultancy advice at the forthcoming inquiry into the proposed mega-depot plan for the disused National Gas Turbine Establishment site.

Hart District Council’s planning committee threw out the scheme at a packed meeting at the Princes Hall, Aldershot, in March.

But joint developers Prupim and Astral appealed against the refusal and the issue will be thrashed out before a government planning inspector during the detailed public inquiry starting in November.

The consultants provided by Rushmoor will work with Hart council officers and campaigners to present evidence on environmental issues, such as noise, to the inquiry.

The help has been welcomed by SPLAT — Stop Pyestock bLot Act Today — the non-political pressure group fighting the controversial meg-depot plan.

SPLAT chairman Bob Schofield said: “We are delighted with the financial support Rushmoor Borough Council is giving our defence of this wholly inappropriate development.

"Through their generous support we are able to work with a leading acoustics expert, Ron Hawkes, who will appear as an expert witness at the inquiry.”