A LANDFILL tip near Scorton, which villagers say threatens to unleash a "cocktail of pollution" into the River Swale, has been given planning permission on the casting vote of North Yorkshire County Council planning committee chairman.

Following nearly two hours of debate on Tuesday, during which time objectors and applicants Yorwaste put their cases, a vote tied 5-5.

Chairman Coun Bill Tindall used his casting vote to approve the scheme, which will see 32 hectares at Tancred quarry, to the west of the village, accommodate a 16-hectare landfill site, a recycling plant and composting operation.

Opponents, who fought for two years to have the proposals rejected, fear litter, noise, smell, vermin, pollution and general disturbance from the site.

Richmondshire District Council objected after members expressed concern over the implications for proposed leisure development of nearby lakes, with boating, open space, walks and possibly a hotel and conference centre.

There was also concern that the decision should have been delayed until after the implications of the local waste plan inquiry were made public.

Scorton Parish Council strongly opposed the plans and representatives who spoke at the meeting feared a "cocktail of pollution" would flow from the landfill site into the Swale. Residents were also concerned about the 13-metre height of the tip, which Coun Michael Heseltine equated to a third of the height of Richmond castle keep, on very flat land.

Jenny Morris, for Yorwaste, said landfill gas would generate electricity and the site was conveniently placed to serve Northallerton and Richmond, two of the main centres of population in the north of the county. "Great care has been taken in the design of the site and proposed operation to ensure full consideration of environmental issues and public concern," she told the meeting.

Coun Heseltine, who lives at Scorton and backed objectors, said the landfill site would grow over the next 20 years to come within half a mile of homes.

People had already suffered from the existing Scorton tip, which had crept 1 miles nearer to the village since the Fifties.

He referred to a clear recommendation by the inspector involved in the waste management plan inquiry that a site at Asenby, near Thirsk, should be examined before Tancred was looked at further.

Officers said the Asenby site had been examined but it was very much on the southern edge of the catchment area for the north of the county, which the new facility would serve.

Planning officer Rachel Pillar said conditions attached to approvals were much more stringent than 15 years ago and proposals included netting the sides and top of the tip to prevent rubbish escaping.

Coun Bill Hoult, who proposed approval, said: "Wherever we put it, it is never going to be right, but this seems to be an acceptable location. If it is refused, the applicant could go to appeal and it could be won on appeal with less stringent conditions than we could place on it here."

Coun Jim Snowball said assurances were needed that enforcement of 22 proposed conditions would be sufficiently robust.

Coun Richard Thomas, who moved rejection of the application, suggested residents might look more favourably on a recycling and composting plant without the landfill element.

Using his casting vote, Coun Tindall admitted he found "great difficulty" in deciding the issue. In supporting the application, he asked officers to "beef up conditions to make them absolutely watertight."

Many villagers from Scorton, Bolton-on-Swale and Ellerton-on-Swale have objected to the scheme. There were also objections from Darlington Brown Trout Angling Association, Teesside International Airport, and one on behalf of parents and pupils of St Mary's School, Bolton-on-Swale.

As people were leaving the council chamber, a protester shouted: "Sit back and watch the mess you are going to make of that village."