ANGRY residents are fighting to stop plans for a massive new industrial and business park on their doorstep, which they warn will swamp their community.

Householders at Leeming Bar say there is not the workforce locally for a major new business park covering 38 acres because employees already travel in from Darlington and beyond to the existing site. Hambleton District Council has already approved spending £43,500 on exploring the possibility of converting the farmland.

Paul Craggs, who runs a caravan park next to the planned site, said his business would be blighted.

“This council has not listened to any of our concerns. It’s just going to ruin the area,” he said.

Jane and David Harris, of Low Street, said their home is included in the site, although they have never been contacted by the council.

Mrs Harris said: “We were recently advised by a local estate agent that our property is un-saleable because in addition to the negative impact of being surrounded by industrial buildings, the council have actually marked it for industrial use. It’s absolute nonsense. They should have been looking at the other side of the A1 where the new motorway has been built.”

Councillor John Noone said: “The impact of this is difficult to justify. The old estate was built by the former Bedale council and it has been successful, but with a very low unemployment rate I question the need for such a large new area – it’s going to double it. The residents have had enough, what with with the motorway and the bypass.”

The land would be included in the new local plan which the council says is vital to stop the area stagnating. Deputy leader Councillor Peter Wilkinson said: “Unlocking the growth potential through the development of this land will have economic benefits for the district. Leeming Bar is recognised as a key location for business and employment and will have a direct impact on the businesses that are already successfully trading there. Initial investigations are promising but we need more detail before we can make a final decision on taking this land forward.”

Local GP Dr Matthew Sawyer said: “The residents of Leeming Bar are concerned for many reasons that this is the wrong development in the wrong place at the wrong time.”