PLANS for a high-tech business park near York look set to be shelved, after city planners gave them the thumbs-down.

Tannery business Charles F Stead had hoped to create the park at The Tannery, at Strensall, and pledged that the project would create at least 400 jobs.

But planners at City of York Council have recommended that the firm's request for outline planning permission be refused, on the grounds that transport issues "have not been adequately addressed" in the design brief.

Many villagers, and some members of the local parish council, had doubts about the scheme, believing the village could not cope with the volume of traffic it would generate.

Strensall Parish Council eventually lodged no objection, but sought a series of safeguards, including a footbridge, and a full traffic survey.

Planners felt the site would be inaccessible by alternative forms of transport, such as cycling and public transport, and that it was therefore "unsustainable".

Peter Crack, managing director of Charles F Stead, said the firm would put the plans on hold, unless city councillors overturned the recommendation. "We are going to defer, and are re-examining the issue at the moment. I don't want to make a further comment at this time."

He said the tannery business would remain open, and would continue to employ its ten staff, "for the time being".

Referring to the transport problems in his report to the council, development control officer Mick Britton said: "The potential impact of the development in this regard is not known, and in advance of the resolution of such issues, the application must be considered premature."

One resident, who asked not to be named, said: "The village could not sustain the level of traffic that would result from the business park, at least, not without some major improvements.

"It needs a proper traffic survey to work out what the village can and cannot handle."

The application will be discussed on Monday.

Updated: 10:48 Friday, June 07, 2002