RESIDENTS opposed to plans for a town's second petrol station claim it is the "wrong development in the wrong place".

An application has been submitted to Ryedale District Council by BP for a filling station on land between Welham Road and Springfield Garth in Norton, near Malton, with three fuel pumps, a forecourt shop and 40 parking spaces.

The application, which has so far received 28 objections and three letters of support, is expected to create about 20 jobs.

However, residents say the development lies on the edge of a conservation area and will have a detrimental impact on the town. They have also raised concerns about highway safety, noise levels, air quality, flood risk and contamination.

Jane Colthup, on behalf of those opposed to the plan, said: "The creation of a new site access on an already overburdened public highway will mean an increase in traffic congestion."

She said there was also concern about the noise levels and disturbance from the development.

Local councillor Di Keal added: "The site is totally inappropriate for this development on so many levels. It is only a few hundred yards from an existing petrol station, in a predominately residential area and smack in the middle of a flood plain. It is simply the wrong development in the wrong place."

The application letter from agents Rapleys said: “The proposed development has taken consideration of design, highways and environmental policies to deliver significant visual enhancements to a vacant site, while continuing to preserve local amenity and highway arrangements.”