A PARISH council is calling for a strict environmental assessment before plans for composting biodegradable waste are discussed.

Eldon Parish Council has expressed concerns about the control of noise, dust and odour if proposals by Eldon Hall Farm are approved.

An application has been made to Durham County Council for the composting of biodegradable waste inside a farm shed at Eldon Hall Farm, in Old Eldon.

The system would turn materials including sawdust, chipboard, paper crumbs and food processing waste into compost. The materials will come from sources in the County Durham area.

But local councillors said that although they were not opposed to recycling in principle, the barn was in too poor a condition for such use and was too close to homes in Old Eldon.

Residents expressed their concerns at a meeting of the parish council in St Mark's Church.

The council has submitted a three-page letter of objection to the county council.

A spokesman for the parish council said: "Of the 12 properties in Old Eldon, eight are between approximately 80 metres and 205 metres from the composting shed. This is unacceptable even if the shed was fully sealed.

"The shed has some broken corrugated panels and ill-fitting doors, and it has roof vents for air circulation so that the noise, dust and odour would be released into the atmosphere from the composting process."

Concerns have also been raised about drainage, fearing that liquid from the process would remain on the sealed concrete floor and walls, creating additional smells.

Residents were worried because they said such a small scheme would not need a waste licence, meaning monitoring by the county council and the Environment Agency would not be as strict.

It has been proposed that an average of four (two in/two out) and a maximum of eight (four in/four out) vehicles would be making the trip to and from the farm.

Residents said that would put pressure on the small winding roads in the area and cause problems for pedestrians.

It is expected that the plans will be discussed at a meeting of Durham County Council's planning committee next month.