PARISH councillors at Aiskew are on a collision course with the planning authority over an attempt to replace a redundant abattoir with houses.

They would prefer to have the area redeveloped, rather than see the existing buildings become a derelict eyesore, even though Hambleton District Council said last month that the scheme should be rejected as it went against local plan policy.

Sunderland-based Northern Counties Meat Group closed the 52-year-old abattoir after the company failed to win planning permission in 1997 for a cattle cremator to burn the carcases of healthy animals over 30 months old, culled under the drive against BSE.

Last month, the company submitted to the district council an outline application indicating that 68 houses of various sizes could be accommodated on the 5.6-acre site, which would include the redundant buildings behind Rigby Terrace and a surrounding field.

The district council said the application failed to meet criteria in the Bedale area local plan because the site was outside village limits.

It also had to be judged against a prevailing over-supply of housing across Hambleton compared with targets set in the district-wide local plan between 1991 and 2006.

But after meeting representatives of Northern Counties and the company's property consultants, parish councillors have agreed in principle to the redevelopment subject to their concerns being addressed in the final detailed application.

Philip Neaves, representing the consultants, confirmed that the scheme would include 25pc low-cost housing, in line with a Hambleton requirement on all new developments of more than ten properties.

Parish councillor Carl Les said he was disappointed planners appeared to have dismissed the proposal without full consultation with councillors at every level.

He said: "The availability of a windfall site such as this offers a great improvement in the gateway to Bedale and the provision of some low-cost housing, and should be viewed with some flexibility by planners.

"An alternative use of the site as other industrial premises is not generally acceptable and simply to abandon the buildings to their ultimate demise would obviously be undesirable."

It was originally understood that the application would be refused under planning officers' delegated powers, but Coun Les said Hambleton had now agreed to his request that it should go before the development control committee.

Parish council chairman Bob Pocklington supported the scheme but wanted to see a link with a housing association to preserve the low-cost status of the 25pc of properties in this category. He also thought a play area was needed.

Coun Neil Pocklington was concerned about the impact of extra traffic on the A684, although congestion would be eased if a relief road were ultimately built, and he questioned the additional burden on public services. He thought, however, that children from the development should help numbers at Aiskew and Leeming Bar CE Primary School.

Northern Counties chairman Alan Stevenson said changes in the UK meat industry meant that the abattoir was no longer sustainable.

Mr Neaves said attempts would be made to balance the number of properties on the abattoir site against any increase in traffic, which should not cause a problem if a local relief road were built.

A play area could be incorporated if considered important by all parties. Public utilities would be contacted to ensure they could meet the demand