PLANNERS risk the wrath of a North Yorkshire village today if they vote to accept a new use for a building in the heart of an old school campus.
A meeting in nearby Richmond today will look at a report on Randall Orchard Holdings Limited's bid to convert part of Scorton's former grammar school into a storage and warehousing facility.
But people with homes nearby are determined to block the proposals and have already bombarded Richmondshire District Council with almost 50 letters.
They are adamant that commercial vehicles have no place in an area which has been largely redeveloped as housing, and that their quality of life will be ruined by lorries using the site six days a week.
Others are claiming that when they bought their new homes from Randall's sister company, Randall Orchard Construction, they were not told of the scheme.
There are also concerns that the Little Learners nursery in the village would find itself next door to the new operation.
Campaigners are worried the children could be at risk both in terms of road safety and from pollution from the vehicles' exhausts.
Councillors visited the village to assess the likely impact of the project for themselves last week and were met by a delegation of residents.
Neighbour Ian Meeson said: "A warehouse just isn't on.
"The kids ride their bikes in and out of the square nearby, and although you tell them to be careful, there would always be a risk.
"The roads are already busy when parents are dropping their children off at the nursery, and they are talking about adding lorries to that? The roads are just too narrow."
The district councillor for the ward, Councillor Michael Heseltine, is not a member of the committee.
However, he said: "All representations will now be considered, and the information made available during the site visit - which I suggested - will now be debated, along with the representations made by the public and all the consultees."
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