A NORTH Yorkshire businessman must wait at least another month before councillors agree the future of his business.

Coal merchant David Welford, from Wrelton, outside Pickering, hopes to relocate his livelihood to an agricultural site at Cliff Lane.

But even though councillors agreed in principle to his proposal at a northern area planning meeting, the final seal of approval must be given by another Ryedale District Council committee next month.

Mr Welford, who spoke at last night's meeting, said he was frustrated at how long everything seemed to be taking.

"The site is already existing and has been for the last 15 years, and it does not seem to have caused any problems - I don't know why all of a sudden it has," he said.

Development control manager Gary Housden said despite receiving dozens of letters of support for Mr Welford, officers were still opposed to the development. "It remains our view that this remains visually obtrusive and that is why we continue to recommend it for refusal," he said.

Updated: 11:28 Tuesday, November 05, 2002