JOBS will be at stake when councillors decide whether to back plans to expand a pharmacy's wholesale business.

Hambleton District Council planning officers have chang-ed their recommendation on the application by G Pharma for permission for extensions at the rear of 31 North End, Bedale, to accommodate the wholesale element of the business, which sells direct to customers.

G Pharma claims that refusal would lead to the wholesale element being moved out of Bedale, with a loss of jobs.

The business was extended to create a mixed retail and wholesale pharmacy without planning permission and the application seeks to put this arrangement on a formal bas-is.

Hambleton development control committee last month agreed to make a site visit before reaching a decision.

At that time, planning officers recommended refusal because it was considered that the use by vans of the only access, through a cobbled yard emerging into a narrow part of Emgate, would create unacceptable highway problems.

The highways authority said the sub-standard Emgate access had negligible visibility and was potentially dangerous.

Maurice Cann, the council's head of development control, said approval would now be recommended at the committee meeting on Thursday.