PROPOSALS for a wood-pellet manufacturing plant close to a village with conservation area status have come under fire from residents.

Land Energy, a company specialising in developing renewable energy, has put forward the plans for the former potato store on Wombleton Airfield.

The building would be transformed, with a two-storey office and staff facilities added, silos for wood pellets and sawdust erected and a new access created complete with weighbridge.

There would also be a parking area for staff, external log storage areas and a wood chip bunker.

People living in Wombleton, between Helmsley and Kirkbymoorside, are opposing the scheme, saying it will lead to damage of historic cottages and narrow roads.

Peter Lerow, chairman of the parish council, said the council feels the site should continue to be used for agricultural purposes, for which the potato store qualifies.

He said: "Much of the village is a conservation area and heavy trucks will aggravate the vibration problems we suffered in the past to our cottages. There are also worries about the safety of children. We have a large number in Wombleton and a number of them are horse riders.

"Everyone is concerned at the prospect of this development, local road junctions are tight and the footpaths are narrow because these are only C-class roads."

He added: "The principle of making wood pellets is all right, but this is not the right site."

The village was given conservation area status two years ago. It has 11 listed buildings, a medieval road lay-out and cottages which date back between 200 and 300 years.

Peter Teasdale, director of Land Energy which is based at Brecks Farm, Pockley, across the A170 from Wombleton, said: "The airfield is a brownfield site with an existing 30,000 sq ft building and six acres of concrete hard standing, both of which are vital for a successful plant.

"There are no other similar sites or buildings in the area, even on industrial estates. Re-using existing building is also good environmental policy."

Mr Teasdale said that to be economically viable, such a plant had to be as close as possible to the timber supply.

"Wombleton is within 15 miles of 75 per cent of North Yorkshire's forestry resource," he said.

Ryedale District Council planners will discuss the application at a meeting on Tuesday, October 16.