FEARS a Thirsk green belt could be built on have been dismissed as being unfounded.

Residents fear developers will be given approval to build on land between York Road and Cod Beck, but Hambleton District Council has denied it is looking at any firm bids to develop the area.

The land, known as the Flatts, is used for recreation with some areas set aside for farm animals to graze.

The district council is working on a local development document as it moves from the current local plan. Under its time-scale, the development document is not set to be completed until at least 2007.

Steve Quartermain, district director of planning and environmental services, denied the claims about building on the green belt. He said: "There are many people putting proposals to us about how they would use land. This plan may never come to fruition. There is no way we could say yes or no to it now.

"We will consider any plans when we are looking at sites with the finished local development document."

Ideas include coach and car parking areas and industrial buildings.

At public consultations for the development document, held in Thirsk and Sowerby, many people voiced fears for the green belt.

Steve Purser, of Sowerby, said: "I am against development on this site as it adds to the unique character of Thirsk. We do not need more industrial estates as the current one is not full and there is land at Dalton.

"There would be fewer businesses in the town centre as they would move here to the periphery, and it would be hard to live in Thirsk without a car."

He added that he feared the plan would go through without proper thought by council planners.