PLANS to extend an industrial estate have sparked protests.

Plans by plumbing and electrical supplies firm Abacus Direct to erect a storage building at the estate at Jubilee Mills, Copgrove, near Knaresborough, is strongly opposed by two parish councils, residents and an action group.

Burton Leonard Parish Council has told Harrogate Borough Council an extension will lead to an increase in heavy goods vehicles (HGV), as well as more employees travelling to work on narrow country lanes, which already struggle to cope with existing traffic.

In a letter to the council, Staveley Residents' Group, said some listed buildings in the village are suffering from structural damage caused "to a degree" by heavy vehicles.

The letter said: "We do expect and accept that Staveley's business interest must be upheld, but the flow of HGV through-traffic does not bring any benefits to this village."

Members of Harrogate's area planning committee will discuss the application when it meets on Thursday, in Knaresborough.

Planning officers have recommended approval because the plans represent an industrial estate extension to accommodate an expanding business.

The officers said the extension could also lead to a reduction in traffic movements in the wider area.

Agents for Abacus Direct said the firm's growth is being held back by a lack of storage facilities at the site.

A spokesman said:"To enable it to continue to prosper and grow, it is seeking to rationalise the business by consolidation on a single site at Jubilee Mills with additional space being provided."

They said that the company employs 30 people, but when the premises were used as a feed mill, it generated a great deal of heavy vehicle movements and employed 100 people.