Caravan dealer warns of threat to business from asphalt scheme

AN East Riding caravan dealer has said its customers are threatening to walk away from them if plans for an asphalt plant nearby are approved, councillors have heard.

Manor Farm Caravan Sales, based at the Catfoss Industrial Estate near Brandesburton, said customers had called with concerns about dust from the proposed plant landing on its yard, councillors heard.

Objector Jackie Suthenwood told East Riding Council’s Planning Committee the complaint was among hundreds of others expressing fears over the effect of the plans on the tourism industry and farming.

David Beaumont, director of Newlay Asphalt, said they respected local concerns but they were misplaced, adding their proposed plant would help meet significant demand in the East Riding. The presentations from objectors and applicants come as the plans are set for their third appearance before the council’s Planning Committee since 2022.

The latest plans are set for a decision today. The massing of machinery has been scaled back and the height of an onsite chimney stack has been lowered from 20m to 15m to try and lessen its impact. There are also plans for landscaping including planting trees to screen it from view.

Plans have also been updated so that aggregates would be stored in internal bays and they stated the plant would fit in with other industry in the area off Catfoss Lane. The plant would have the capacity to process up to 100 tonnes of material an hour, with 30 lorries travelling to and from the site for collections and deliveries.

There would also be an estimated 15 visits from smaller lorries. The plant would operate from 5am to 4.30pm, Monday to Friday, from 7am to 12pm on Saturdays and it would be closed on Sundays and bank holidays.

Councillors heard it would not operate continuously but would work to produce asphalt as and when companies order it.

Bodies including the Environment Agency and the council’s nature and highways teams raised no objections and planning officers have recommended approving the plans.

But 344 objections have been lodged against the latest version of the plans, adding to the hundreds of objections lodged to previous applications including from East Yorkshire MP Greg Knight.