A RECYCLING facility that divided the community when plans for its construction were announced has been declared a success.

Nearly 800 people signed a petition against the bulking station on Colburn lorry park when Richmondshire District Council proposed the facility in 2003.

Residents feared the development would be a blight on the area, increasing noise, pollution and traffic, and hitting trade at nearby businesses.

Arguments led to the resignation of Colburn mayor Peter Wood, who backed the council's plans.

But a new report shows the facility has helped to nearly double the amount of household rubbish collected for recycling in the district.

Martin Garside, the council's environment unit manager said in a report to councillors that as a direct result of the introduction of the station, the council had been able to "substantially increase" the number of glass, paper and aluminium recycling banks across the district.

He said: "This has led to the rapid expansion of our service, particularly in the western part where the distances involved previously made it difficult to service sites."

Councillor Yvonne Peacock, the chairwoman of the community and environment overview and scrutiny committee, told colleagues at a meeting on Tuesday she was pleased with the success of the facility.

"This was a very difficult decision that the council had to make," she said.

"It was a time when the ward member had to be strong. Sometimes, we have to make tough decisions and stand by our convictions that we can make improvements."

Former mayor Peter Wood, still a councillor for Colburn, said: "We have not received one single complaint about the bulking station since it has opened. It's kept tidy and there are no more than two or three wagons going in and out every day. It caused so much argument at the time but, as far as I'm concerned, people were misinformed."

Colburn town councillor Helen Grant, who orchestrated the residents' campaign against the recycling facility, admitted it had not caused the problems originally feared.

"To date, it has been kept to the proper standards which we would expect," she said.

In the nine months prior to the bulking station opening, in October 2003, 81 tonnes of household waste were collected.

In the nine months after the facility was completed, this rose to 154 tonnes.