PEOPLE power prevailed as a controversial composting plant has been rejected planning permission.

There has been strong opposition in Thorpe Willoughby, near Selby, to the application from Yorwaste, a waste management company owned by North Yorkshire County Council and City of York Council.

Protesters said the plant - where organic black bin rubbish such as food waste, disposable nappies and pet faeces would be composted - posed a potential health hazard from bio-aerosols and the foul odours which would come from the site.

Residents set up a protest group RATTY (Residents' Action To stop Trial by Yorwaste) last month to raise their concerns about the plant, which was planned only 400 metres south of the village.

The application was heard by a North Yorkshire County Council planning committee yesterday.

Speaking after the hearing, RATTY spokeswoman Sylvia Parkinson said: "I feel absolutely elated with the decision.

"We packed the public gallery, and we even took up some of the space for councillors.

"We were a very orderly crowd - there was no shouting or anything like that - but I think we could have all hit the roof when the verdict was declared."

Councillors rejected the application by five votes to four because of concerns that villagers' quality of life would be jeopardised by odours coming from the plant, and potential drainage problems at the site.

Councillors were also concerned that this was the first site of its type in the country.

Selby MP John Grogan, who was at the meeting, said: "I spoke against the application and I'm pleased the decision has gone this way. I think the committee very carefully considered the arguments.

"The fact that Selby District Council's environmental health officer continued to oppose the application was a decisive factor. I would now appeal to Yorwaste to reflect very carefully on whether to appeal, and I would urge them not to.

"These decisions are best made at a local level whenever possible, and I hope any decision to appeal will be referred to elected members on the board of Yorwaste."

Steve Grieve, Yorwaste managing director, said: "Our initial reaction to the decision is disappointment.

"We had what we thought was a very strong application, supported by the county council planning officers and the Environment Agency, who didn't object.

"We feel the site is a suitable site for this sort of development, and we heard nothing yesterday morning that would dissuade us from that view.

"The planning committee voted five to four against the application, so it was very close.

"We will now consider our position and decide whether to appeal the decision to the Secretary of State, or submit an application, or both."