A ROW has growing over plans to move Northallerton Auction Mart.

Residents near the proposed site along Thirsk Road are claiming not enough information has been given out.

And Romanby Parish Council says its members have been inundated with comments - mostly unfavourable - about the scheme.

But Hambleton District Council says it has met all requirements to inform the public and that since the plan is unlikely to come before councillors before August 28, there is plenty of time for residents to make their views known.

One resident who lives in the St John's Close area said only one field would separate their homes from the mart if the plans went ahead.

"People on the periphery have not been notified of this," said Anne Smith. "It is ridiculous. There is not enough opportunity to comment."

She said the mart - which would move from its present site in Northallerton town centre - wants to operate from 6am to 10pm Monday to Sunday. "Good grief," she said. "And what if livestock is left on site overnight?

"People thought the mart would be moving to Darlington Road. At least most of those who live near it now bought their homes knowing what the surroundings were.

"For people in the St James area this is the last thing they expected. I will certainly be making my feelings known."

At Tuesday's meeting of the parish council, chairman Coun John Smith said members had been inundated with comments.

"It is meeting a lot of opposition," he said.

Hambleton District Council's head of development control, Maurice Cann, said the authority received the plans only a couple of weeks ago.

More than 60 properties had been notified in the area bounding the St James estate.

"There is a limit as to how much we can do in writing to individual properties, but everyone abutting the site has had a letter," he said.

Public notices had been placed in local newspapers and site notices were being put up at various points this week.

"We have fulfilled our requirements," said Mr Cann.

Mr Cann said the site involved was "sizeable" with access from 500metres down Thirsk Road. A new access would cut towards the rail line.

The site would be 250m from the boundaries of properties.

The outline application is likely to come before the development control committee on August 28.

"So there is plenty of time for people to comment," said Mr Cann.