WATER bosses are objecting to a local authority scheme which would involve a £1.7m extension to an industrial estate.

The last plot on the Leeming Bar industrial estate was sold in the summer, and Hambleton District Council is now seeking to enlarge the estate by almost 20 acres to further boost the local economy.

Yorkshire Water is objecting to the proposal, saying it would exacerbate existing problems at its local waste water treatment works.

The plant is already at the limits of its capacity and drainage from the planned development would cause the works to fail the agreed standards, the company has said.

A spokesman said: "The works are experiencing treatment problems and any additional flows would further compound this problem."

The local internal drainage board has also raised the problem, and wants the scheme delayed until the disposal of water from the site has been shown to be adequate.

People have also objected to the planned development, particularly in relation to the expected increase in traffic, loss of rural land and impact on the environment.

A final decision is expected to come from the Government, but Hambleton's planning officials believe the extension is both justifiable and acceptable under the terms of their Local Plan.

They say the scheme will involve improvements to the sewage system and surface water disposal, and strict conditions would be attached to any expansion.

However, they say an increase in traffic is inevitable, although restrictions on traffic movements can be considered when applications are made for specific uses.

Altogether, they are calling for 17 seperate conditions to be imposed on the development and, if approved, construction work on the project could start late next year or early in 2004.

The estate, by Leases Road, was opened 30 years ago and has been developed and enlarged in stages since then.

The scheme involves landscaping, but the planned upgrading of the nearby A1 to motorway status could have implications for part of the site, a problem which will need to be assessed before the site is purchased.