LOCAL businesses and councillors have come together to fight a major scheme to develop a waste management site in North Yorkshire.

Todds Waste Management has entered a four point plan with North Yorkshire County Council over its Thirsk Industrial Park site.

It wants to extend an existing waste transfer building on the site and also get retrospective approval for building an additional plant there.

Todds also aims to vary two conditions imposed on it the first allow an extension to the hours of operation and the second in regard to the materials processed on site.

But the scheme has irked many local businesses who have joined to write in protest to the county council about the scheme.

They have been joined by Coun Derek Adamson, of Thirsk Town Council, and Hambleton District Council’s Thirsk member.

Coun Adamson said: "I wish to object most strongly against this, the most recent application for Todd’s.

"I am sure the district council is aware of the many and consistent complaints from other businesses on the Industrial Estate.

"I am not against Todd’s operations per-se, indeed I am full of admiration for the efforts that the staff put into recycling.

"I would however, question the suitability of Thirsk Industrial Estate for this type of operation.

"The extended hours of operation are not acceptable nor is the request for the relaxation of planning conditions to allow different types of materials to be processed.

"The supporting statement is most dishonest in that it makes mention of the distance from Thirsk town centre but fails to mention that the vast majority of the inhabitants of Thirsk live in very close proximity to the site, namely, just across the road."

County councillor Gareth Dadd, who covers the Thirsk ward next to the Bagby ward Todds is in, is also against the scheme.

The Conservative councillor said: "I have very serious concerns and I’m worried about how it will affect the residents and businesses in my ward.

"I shall certainly be speaking at committee on the issues regarding this application and I shall be a strong advocate for my voters.

"I will be calling for a site visit so that the councillors can see first hand the problems this application may cause."

The main concerns of the local businesses are that there will be an increase in the amount of dust and noise and bad odours.

They also fear an increase in the level of flies and vermin in the area plus the spread of litter as waste paper escapes from the Todds site.

Congestion from lorries looking to enter the Todds site would also be a problem with local residents and businesses affected.

The scheme is currently out to consultation and it has a target decision date of August 10.

The county council will determine the outcome of the plan instead of the local planning authority Hambleton District Council.

This is because it is a minerals and waste application which the county has to look at.

Chris Jarvis, of Glen Kamp, agents for Todds, said: "The application has been submitted to increase recycling on the site.

"The whole proposal is to increase the rate of recycling at the site and to improve its efficiency."