VILLAGE campaigners embroiled in a five-year battle with a national firm have lost their fight to stop a quarry near to their homes being used as a landfill site.

Engineering works will begin next spring in Hartlebury and tipping operations are expected to start towards the end of 2007 after Biffa Waste was granted a Pollution and Prevention Control Permit - PPC.

Residents formed the Hartlebury Against Landfill Toxins - HALT - group in 2001 in an attempt to block the proposals for the site, off Whitlenge Lane.

More than £5,000 has been pumped into the campaign from members' wallets, which helped pay for a report supporting their cause written by Alan Watson, who had previously worked with Greenpeace.

The Environment Agency initially turned down Biffa's application for the license to start tipping in March, 2005 because it was not satisfied over risks to groundwater.

Mark Massey, co-ordinator of HALT's campaign, admitted the decision had angered residents but insisted its opposition stance had not been in vain.

The Walton Road resident said: "We are disappointed because there has been a lot of time, effort and money put into HALT. We just hope that the critical points about things like health, noise and traffic issues we have raised have been covered and Biffa realises how people in the village feel.

"We have been offered the chance to act as a liaison between Biffa and the people in the community. We are still considering what to do. It does seem a good idea but it would still be their responsibility to let residents know what was going on. We are still taking that one step at a time."

Biffa has insisted no waste classified as "hazardous" will be disposed of at the quarry, which received planning consent for the operation in 1986.

The firm also promised the site would be restored to agricultural use in 10 years' time, when operations would transfer back to the nearby Waresley landfill site.

Graham Peacock , the company's technical development manager, said: "We are aware of issues raised by HALT and we understand their concerns.

"However, consent to proceed with developing the site does exist and the robust conditions of PPC permit outline exactly the measures that will be in place to prevent odours, pests, noise, dust and environmental pollution."

Mr Peacock added there had been contact between the company and Hartlebury Parish Council on the way forward to restore the quarry. Residents with queries can call Biffa's information desk on 020 8540 5045.