CONTROVERSIAL plans for a waste transfer station just yards from businesses at Brompton-on-Swale have not found favour with planners.

Officers at Richmondshire District Council have recommended refusal of proposals by Yorwaste for the development at the Towngate site in Bridge Road.

Residents and traders were outraged when news of the application was revealed last month.

They feared noise, dust and smell from up to 66 vehicles a day, including Sundays, would make life unbearable and sound the death knell for the Gatherley Road industrial estate.

A planners' report which goes to the council's environment committee on Tuesday echoes the concerns and urges investigation of other, more suitable, sites.

The report concludes the development would have an unacceptable impact on the area and would be likely to deter businesses from moving to the estate. Officers felt it also contravened the district local plan.

Yorwaste said the operation would involve domestic, commercial and industrial waste arriving at the site in covered lorries. It would be weighed, separated and crushed before being taken away in sheeted articulated lorries.

No waste would be stored at the site and all processes would take place inside the building. Measures would be taken to ensure dust and smell were contained and the development would create five jobs.

Last week, there was standing room only when a protest meeting lasting more than two hours took place in the community sports hall in Brompton on Swale.

More than 160 villagers packed the room to hear about the plan and ask questions.

Officials present included Steve Grieve, managing director of Yorwaste, and Jenny Morris, the firm's technical manager and environmental representative, Peter Featherstone, development control team leader, and Sean Little, principal environmental health officer.

The district councillor for Brompton on Swale, Jim Fryer, attended, but was unable to take part in discussions because of rules that would prevent him from being involved in the district council hearing later. County Coun Carl Les was on holiday and sent his apology.

Villagers heard a detailed explanation about the proposal from Ms Morris, and Mr Featherstone spoke on the process for the application.

When questions were thrown open to the floor, much emotion was shown, ranging from anger at the choice of village to fears for safety.

Children's health and safety were raised in the light of the school's proximity to the site, pollution and increase in traffic. Other worries concerned horse riders on the bridleway and the affect on businesses from possible loss of customers.

County Coun Michael Heseltine, the councillor for the neighbouring Scorton area, told the meeting he had only heard about the proposal that afternoon, by chance.

He knew that Scorton residents were extremely unhappy about waste disposal in their village, and he offered his support to Brompton on Swale.

At the end of the heated meeting, the officials were left in no doubt about the feelings of the villagers