VILLAGERS are being urged to turn out in force later this week to persuade planning officials to block proposals for a £500,000 meat processing factory near their homes.

More than 230 West Auckland residents have already signed a petition calling on Wear Valley District Council members to block the proposal by HDV foods to open a business on the Aptec Industrial Estate, on the former Scandura site.

The company does not need permission to move on to the site, but is applying to create a turning circle and three loading bays less than 40 metres from homes in Oakley Green.

It estimates that the new business will create 25 jobs. Carcasses will arrive from Britain and abroad between 5am to 10pm, but residents fear they could be faced with an around-the-clock operation eventually.

Nearly 100 people voiced their objections at a public meeting last month. Now campaign leaders hope to show the depth of feeling in the village by staging a mass protest when the application comes before the council's planning committee for consideration on Friday.

Former village postmaster Tom Hutchinson has been chosen to put forward the community's views at the meeting in the council chamber at Crook Civic Centre, which starts at 5.30pm.

He said: "Nobody else can speak, but we need to show the council that feelings are running high. Lorries could be coming in day and night, and there is bound to be a lot of smell and noise very close to residents' houses."

The plant is a new enterprise by the directors of two Chilton companies, Corolla Products and SMS Meats.

Stephen Speed, who runs the businesses with his wife Suzanne and brother-in-law George Scott, has offered to build a grass embankment between the homes and the plant.

He has pointed out that all the companies' operations are subject to rigorous inspection and comply with strict guidelines covering food hygiene and safety.

Anyone who requires transport to attend the meeting can contact Mr Hutchinson at The Bungalow, 50 East Green, or Stan Briggs, at 75 Oakley Green, West Auckland