A plea to remove tons of contaminated material from a former sand and gravel quarry in North Yorkshire has been turned down after the applicant refused to say why they wanted to carry out the work.

Residents fear it was to pave the way for housing development on the site east of Halfpenny Lane, Knaresborough.

But Harrogate Borough Council officer Neville Watson said members of the Knaresborough area planning committee had voted overwhelmingly against the scheme after the applicant's agent was not prepared to say why the application was being made by a company, called Halfpenny Lane.

The scheme was being recommended for approval by planning officers.

But it sparked objections from residents in nearby Colebrook Meadows who were concerned about hundreds of lorry movements. They presented a petition signed by 21 residents.

Meadowside Primary School also called for a pelican crossing and extra parking space to relieve potential congestion.

There was also a protest from the Ramblers' Association who wanted conditions imposed on completion time.