A DECISION on plans to build a controversial asphalt plant will not be made until next month.

Despite around 30 people turning up to the City of York Council planning meeting to show their opposition to the proposals, Cllr Anne Reid, the committee chairman, said officers had to be 100 per cent confident in the plans they were looking at.

Planners issued a note before the meeting explaining they had received further advice from the Highway Network Management that the extent and location of the highway boundary at the junction of New Lane with the A59 is unclear.

They have also received a letter from solicitors acting on behalf of objectors, which outlined “detailed issues” in planning and highway matters, and they needed to investigate further.

Tynedale Roadstone want to build a new plant in Hessay, next to the village’s business park, but it has been met with fierce criticism, including hundreds of objections.

A number of residents have already staged protests about the site and Julian Sturdy, MP for York Outer, has spoken out against the development.

It is estimated the asphalt plant would see a further 176 journeys per day, including 90 HGVs, in New Road which is already said to be congested.

In his objection Mr Sturdy raised concerns about the safety of the junction onto the A59, the entrance to the industrial estate, and the risk of traffic backing up over the level crossing.

Locals and campaigners sent more than 200 objections to the city council, with transport worries a major cause of concern.

The planners report shows the council’s highways staff initially shared concerns the junction for the A59 would not be able to cope with the extra HGV traffic, but they later changed their view when Tynedale Roadstone revised plans.

Hessay Parish Council, however, is still unhappy and a letter to planners says they think the revised plans, described by Tynedale Roadstone’s own planning agents as “the best available option”, are still not acceptable.