Selby'S MP has backed residents battling a controversial plan to build a waste composting plant near their village.

John Grogan called for bosses at recycling firm Yorwaste to scrap an application to build the facility at Gateforth Park farm, near Thorpe Willoughby.

The waste disposal firm wants to run a three-month trial in shredding and composting household refuse on the former mushroom farm beyond the Selby bypass.

Villagers have mounted a campaign against the proposals. They fear the scheme will produce stomach-turning smells, airborne particles and bacteria and lead to an increase in vermin.

In a letter to the firm Mr Grogan said changes proposed by Yorwaste to enclose more of the composting process showed how untried the scheme is. He said: "The problem is that this illustrates just how experimental this whole process is and how uncertain the science.

"A few weeks ago representatives of Yorwaste were assuring us all that the original plans took care of issues such as smell and bio-aerosols. This was clearly not the case given the proposed changes."

Mr Grogan said the plan breaches Environment Agency guidelines that say composting sites must be at least 250 metres from homes.

And he said residents could not have confidence in Yorwaste because the firm had already altered its plans.

He said: "In the case of a sensitive site like Thorpe Willoughby it is essential in maintaining public confidence to get the science right at the first time of asking.

"I am afraid local villagers are not unreasonably asking: 'If they got it wrong at the first time of asking, how can we trust them second time round?'"

John Miller, spokesman for Yorwaste, said the firm is looking again at its application after its meetings with parish councilors and residents.

He said: "We take on board John Grogan's points. He has obviously decided to make a stand and he has clearly received significant lobbying from the local community.

"We are very confident that we are taking the best practice and best measures available to make sure that we do not cause problems at Thorpe Willoughby or any other site."

Parish council vice-chairman Mall Doyle said: "I fully support what John Grogan has said and we are very grateful for his support.

"I think it is getting to the point where realistically Yorwaste have no option but to withdraw the application."

Updated: 09:56 Thursday, April 20, 2006