A COUNCIL yesterday defended its stance over claims that it unfairly excluded a councillor from a key planning meeting concerning sand and gravel extraction.

North Yorkshire County Council has come under fire in London's High Court for allegedly barring Councillor Paul Richardson from a June 2002 meeting of its planning committee on grounds that he had a potential prejudicial interest in the issues being debated.

Mr Richardson, councillor for Masham and Fountains, lives close by the gravel extraction site, in Green Lane, Littlethorpe, near Ripon, and says he represents the views of many residents who oppose the planned development, by Brown and Potter Limited.

But the county council's barrister, Timothy Straker, defended the local authority's position and urged Mr Justice Richards to accept that its decision was justified by its code of conduct. He also stressed that Mr Richardson was never excluded from the planning committee meeting.

The code of conduct was clear in requiring a person with a prejudicial interest in a matter to withdraw from a meeting when it was being discussed', the court was told.

Mr Richardson and local parish councillor Woody Orma are challenging the county council's decision to approve an extension of sand and gravel extractor at Ripon City Quarry, near the racecourse.

They say the plans could affect vulnerable wildlife on the site by the River Ure, including otters, water voles, and even bats and that not enough account was taken of the potential environmental impact.

He insists he was right in seeking to represent the interests of the residents, who were denied a voice in the planning decision by his exclusion from the committee meeting.

The hearing continues.