ESTATE residents are trying to block a £500,000 meat processing factory which could bring 25 new jobs to a Wear Valley community.

People living in the Oakley Green area of West Auckland have held protest meetings and signed a petition voicing their objection to plans by HDV Foods to open an animal carcass processing plant on the Aptec Industrial Estate, on part of the former Scandura site.

The company, a new enterprise by the directors of two Chilton companies, Corrolla Products and SMS Meats, would bring in animal carcasses for processing from 5am until 10pm.

Initially it would use half the 40,000 sq ft unit, bringing in 15 trained staff, but managing director Stephen Speed hopes to extend and build his workforce up to 40 in a year.

Planning officials have told HDV they do not need permission to set up, but they have applied to create a vehicle turning circle which residents say is too close to their homes.

Campaigner Joyce Campbell helped to collect 121 signatures for a petition which has been sent to Wear Valley District Council.

She said: "There is bound to be a lot of noise. It is only 34 metres from our houses and there are going to be wagons coming in day and night. It is going to affect everyone on the estate. It will be very distressing.

"We are not convinced that it will mean jobs for West Auckland. They are bringing trained people with them and there will be nothing for people on the estate."

More than 60 people attended a public meeting last week and protestors are hoping to arrange another shortly.

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

He said: "I don't think the ten vehicles we expect will make a great difference because it is already an industrial estate.

"Somebody is going to develop the building, whether it is us or somebody else, and there are going to be vehicles coming in and out.

"We will meet the residents any time they want, but there is no common ground. We want to be there and they don't want us there."