A SCHEME to earmark 1,000 graves for green burials at a North Yorkshire nature reserve has been rejected by planners.

Harrogate Borough Council planning committee overwhelmingly rejected the scheme at Gertrude's Pasture in Scotton, near Knaresborough.

An extension had been applied for by a Leeds widow, Susan Thorp, whose husband Mick died eight years ago.

The council has allowed only 50 graves - with only a few remaining - for green burials, and Mrs Thorp wants to be buried beside her husband.

Eight councillors voted against expansion, and there were two abstentions.

The vote backed a recommendation of refusal by planning officer Neville Watson. He said expansion for 1,000 burials would have an adverse effect on the character and appearance of the area. There was an absence of any local need for a site of such a size.

He also said an extension could increase traffic and visitors affecting the amenity of residents.

Committee chairman Coun John Smith said expansion was not basically for local people but for the whole country. "And I think this was one of the worries. If the area was used for burials at the present rate, the expanded burial ground could be open for up to 500 years," said Coun Smith.

The chairman said street parking was "extremely difficult".

Scotton Parish Council tabled a strong protest, pointing out that the issue had already been fully discussed on previous occasions. Earlier rulings, they say, had been reached after long and careful deliberations by the parish council, Harrogate Borough Council and the Department of the Environment.

"Scotton Parish Council regard the earlier decisions to be final and in this are supporting local opinion.

"All planning grounds cited on the earlier occasions still apply," they say.

English Nature told planners the reserve supported a population of great crested newts and pointed out it was an offence to kill, disturb or damage their breeding sites.

The Environment Agency did not object provided there was protection of water courses.

Permission was refused in 1998 to use the reserve for burials and an appeal later dismissed.

But a scheme was approved in 1998 limiting burials to 50, covering only part of the reserve.

Last October a plea to conduct burials anywhere in the reserve was refused.

The burial ground is run by A B Welfare and Wildlife Trust from Scotton.

Coun Smith said Harrogate's Stonefall Cemetery had an area set aside for green burials.