MORE than 200 villagers have written to North Yorkshire County Council objecting to proposals of a nearby waste site.

Residents have joined forces and voiced concerns about proposals from Yorwaste to develop an integrated waste management facility at the Scorton Landfill Site, next to Brompton-on-Swale, near Richmond.

Yorwaste is hoping to use the land close to a Persimmon housing estate on a temporary basis - at least until the new waste transfer site at the old Tancred quarry, in Scorton, is ready for use in October 2005.

On Saturday Stephen Mannocks, one of the Brompton residents spearheading the protest, handed over the pile of letters to local county council representative Councillor Karl Les.

Mr Mannocks said: "We have fantastic support from everyone in the village - the whole community is fighting against this."

Executive member Coun Les intends to take the letters to the council's planning and regulatory functions committee meeting today, where they will discuss the issue.

"I am in full support of these residents who don't want to see the waste site operating so close to their homes. It is a totally inappropriate location," he said.

Yorwaste is seeking permission to construct the waste transfer station at the active landfill site, so that industrial, household and commercial waste can be sorted and recycled.

As well as the 200 letters, the council has already received 52 letters from residents covering a range of issues, concerns and objections. These include:

* Nuisance to residents from litter, noise, odour, dust and vermin.

* Potential impact on ground and surface waters.

* Health risks from flies, vermin, bacteria and material storage.

* Visual impact as seen from the nearest properties and impact on the quality of life.

* Traffic congestion and disturbance on routes to the site.

Brompton Parish Council and Scorton Parish Council both consider the location of the proposed station to be inappropriate due to the proximity to housing.

County councillors are likely to agree a date to undertake a site visit to Scorton landfill site at the meeting.