FARMERS who set up a waste composting plant look likely to lose their latest battle for planning permission.

County council planners have recommended that M Metcalfe and Sons, based at Silver Hill Farm, near Tunstall, should not be allowed to resume their operation.

Composting of green waste, brewery sludge, ice cream by-products and shredded MDF started at the farm three years ago.

Initially, the business operated under a temporary licence from the Environment Agency, but was later told it needed planning permission if it was to become permanent.

County councillors refused an application in December 2004 and the Metcalfes were told to close the plant.

The family, who opened the recycling facility after their stock was culled during the 2001 foot-and-mouth outbreak, have now applied for permission to compost biodegradable waste on a smaller, one-hectare site.

Waste from civic amenity sites, landscape contractors' and tree surgeons' work would be among the material to be composted. The quantity of waste would be up to 1,000 cubic metres at any time.

However, Richmondshire District Council said the nature of the operation was likely to have an unacceptable impact on nearby houses.

The Environment Agency has also objected, voicing concerns over noise and smell from the plant.

Five letters of objection have been sent to the county council by residents, who also said there were alternative sites for composting in the county.

Mike Moore, director of environmental services at the authority, has recommended that permission be refused.

The council's planning committee will discuss the application on Tuesday.