PROPOSALS for a recycling centre have been submitted for a countryside site.

Yorwaste, which took over waste management from North Yorkshire County Council in 1993, has applied to develop at Flaxby, just off the A59 road between Knaresborough and York.

The centre, which would serve more than 150,000 people in the Harrogate district, is likely to cost £750,000.

Goldsborough and Flaxby parish councillors have expressed concern about the development near their communities.

Councillor Alan Walgate, a parish council member, said they were worried that between 60 and 100 lorries a day could use the centre.

Malcolm Downs, Yorwaste Operations Manager for recycling, said the centre would be used for newspapers, magazines, aluminium and steel cans, cardboard glass and commercial office paper.

The land was bought by Yorwaste two years ago, and the site could accept up to 20,000 tonnes of waste each year.

Mr Downs said a similar plant operated at Hessay near York for the York district

Yorwaste says it will discuss traffic problems with North Yorkshire highways department.

The planning application comes as the Harrogate district is expanding kerbside waste collections from 11,000 to 20,00 homes.