PROPOSALS to create additional car and bus parking at a school are likely to be approved, despite opposition from councils and local people.

Planning permission is being sought to provide a dedicated bus area and car park in the grounds of Easingwold School, to bring vehicles within the site that would otherwise be congesting public roads.

The plans have met with a number of complaints, with five letters being sent to North Yorkshire County Council expressing concerns. These include:

* Fears that proposed parking areas would become havens for anti-social behaviour.

* Concern at the possible impact on the local drainage network and the loss of mature landscape.

* Worry that the proposals would actually exacerbate congestion and encourage car use contrary to the principles of sustainability.

Both Hambleton District Council and Easingwold Town Council have objected to the plans.

But the county council's director of environmental services, Mike Moore, is urging the planning committee to back the proposals.

He said: "There is a significant problem of availability of parking space on site with knock-on effects on bus circulation at peak times, together with congestion and on-street parking."

He said the new facilities would deal with the existing problems and that there was no evidence they would lead to an increase in anti-social behaviour locally.

A number of conditions are likely to be attached if members agree to the proposals at a meeting on Tuesday.

They include making sure detailed landscaping and shrub planting takes place around the site.