NEIGHBOURING businesses were breathing a sigh of relief yesterday when it was confirmed the local authority had rejected a bid for a waste station in Brompton-on-Swale.

The Yorwaste base at nearby Scorton is earmarked for closure in the summer so the firm is looking for a new location for a transfer station where dustbin lorries can leave their loads before rubbish is taken to landfill sites around the area.

It was hoping it could use land on the industrial estate on Bridge Road on a temporary basis - at least until the new waste transfer site at the old Tancred quarry in Scorton is ready for use in 2005.

However, Brompton-on-Swale businesses were worried having a waste operation as a neighbour could drive their customers away and a number wrote to Richmondshire District Council, urging the authority to reject the proposal.

The issue was delegated to the council's officers but later passed to the authority's environment committee when the strength of local feeling on the issue became apparent.

After reading a report which included 15 letters of objection, members decided to refuse the application on Tuesday night.