A CONTROVERSIAL abattoir is to be built in a village near York despite opposition from Prime Minister David Cameron’s father in-law.

Councillors yesterday gave the go-ahead for the slaughterhouse, which could process more than 9,500 animals a year, to be created in Sutton-on-the-Forest.

As revealed by The Press yesterday, the scheme has been criticised by Sir Reginald Sheffield, the father of Mr Cameron’s wife, Samantha, and his wife, Lady Sheffield, after they claimed it would harm their nearby Sutton Park stately home’s status as a tourist attraction.

Other residents also called for the proposals by Chris Hodgson to be turned down because of fears over noise and odour on the site of a former pig-rearing building at Sutton Grange, in York Road.

However, Mr Hodgson said the scheme would create up to eight jobs and help local farmers by reducing the distance they travel to take cattle, pigs and sheep for slaughter, as well as sparing animals from distress.

The Sheffields, who were not at yesterday’s meeting, and the trustees of the Sutton Park Maintenance Trust had written to the council saying noise and smells from the abattoir would have a “damaging effect” on their grounds, which are within half-a-mile of the site.

At a recent public meeting to discuss the proposals, villagers voted ten-to-one against the abattoir and about 40 objection letters were lodged with the authority, along with a 71-name petition calling for its refusal. However, 35 letters and a 77-name petition supported it.

Sutton-on-the-Forest resident Matthew Groom spoke against the development at yesterday’s meeting along with local councillor Mike Rigby.

But committee member Coun Geoff Ellis said: “I cannot see any reason in planning policy for refusing this application.”

The committee also sanctioned the facility opening between 6am and 6pm, two hours’ earlier than the application stated.

Following the decision, Mr Hodgson, who has been a butcher for more than 14 years, thanked his supporters.