THOUSANDS of tonnes of toxic and flammable materials are to be stored on an industrial estate near Ripon following a unanimous decision by councillors.

Bulk storage company the Potter Group applied to Harrogate Borough Council for an alternative hazardous substances consent for the 42-acre site at Melmerby. The site has been used for storing such materials since 1972.

The planning committee has conditionally agreed that the site can now be used for storing 500 tonnes of liquefied petroleum gas in aerosol containers, 280 tonnes of toxic material including cyanide and hydrofluoric acid, 500 tonnes of oxidising material, 2,500 tonnes of flammable material and another 6,000 tonnes of material classed as dangerous to the environment.

The company agreed to the revocation of an existing hazardous substances consent allowing it to store 9,999 tonnes of potentially explosive ammonium nitrate fertiliser.

Consultants acting for the Potter Group said the company recognised the potential risks posed by its operations, but measures were in place to quantify them and to identify safety requirements.

The company has a safety management system regularly reviewed by the Environment Agency and the Health and Safety Executive.

It includes bunded warehouses to contain any spillages, ponds with a 340,000-gallon capacity for firefighting, a lagoon to hold any contaminated water from firefighting and a drainage seal to prevent contaminated water from leaving the site.