A SCHEME to bring noise relief to people living near a disused quarry is to be scrapped.

The scheme was drawn up between Harrogate Borough Council and the owner of Killinghall Quarry in 1998 and was designed to divert traffic - particularly heavy lorries - away from the village.

Residents had complained about noise nuisance, prompting the council to threaten firms using the site without planning permission with legal action. But three years on, no enforcement notices have been served and plans for the new road are in ruins.

The council's chief planner for development services, Tim Richards, said seeking planning permission for the new access had proved controversial.

Although Killinghall Parish Council had joined local residents in complaining about unauthorised development in the quarry, it was objecting to the road construction.

In addition, he claimed that a key landowner was not prepared to sell.

North Yorkshire Highways Authority said it was unhappy about the junction with the main road, and it had emerged that European funding was unlikely.

Mr Richards said: "Council officers and the quarry owners have committed significant financial and professional resources into facilitating construction of the new access. Their efforts have now been met with numerous obstacles and lack of support."

So the prospects of the new road being built in the foreseeable future were nil, he said.

The council's area planning sub committee will discuss the dilemma next Tuesday, with the likely outcome being to cease all work on the access, and companies which do not have planning permission to use the quarry being invited to submit schemes for approval.