ANGRY residents who petitioned councillors against approving plans for another unit on an industrial estate opposite their homes had to accept defeat this week.

Members of Craven District Council's planning committee decided on Monday that plans by the Bentham-based company Africa Link Ltd to extend its premises on the estate opposite Wenning Avenue should be approved, subject to a number of conditions.

The majority of members agreed the application, submitted by the company's owner Frank Atkinson, would be a good investment in the area.

Mr Atkinson said a quarter of a million pounds would be invested in the new expansion plans for Africa Link Ltd, which deals with the supply and servicing of commercial vehicles and the dismantling of vehicles for the recovery of parts for export.

He added: "The development will create new jobs and apprenticeships and new investment in the established industrial heart of Bentham."

Councillors rejected the planning officer's recommendations to refuse the application, and said the new building would be on an established industrial estate and that plans were as sympathetic to local residents as they could be.

More than 30 residents signed a petition against the development, and the council received 18 letters of objection.

The main concern was that the proposed development would cut into land which acted as a "buffer" zone between Wenning Avenue and the industrial estate.

One of the objectors said: "To develop that site would break up that open space which is also marked by a footpath."

She added that the development would be detrimental to the visual amenity and landscape value of the land, and said although the Wenning Avenue area had been an industrial development in the last century, it was now predominantly residential.

The residents were also concerned that the proposed unit would potentially cause disturbance through increased noise and fumes.

They added that Wenning Avenue, an unadopted road, would be unsuitable for the increased amount of traffic and that there was suitable land for industrial development elsewhere in Bentham.

The planning committee agreed it would only approve the application with the proviso that the road was made suitable for traffic and that there would be adequate screening of the new development.

Members also pointed out that the company had offered to build eight extra car parking spaces for residents of the cottages on Wenning Avenue.

Coun Jan Gordon said: "I have great sympathy with the residents on Wenning Avenue but these cottages have always been industrial cottages built to house people working in the mill.

"And with the 30 foot screening and extra car parking spaces, the development will be well contained in that meadow."

Bentham district councillor Gerald Hurtley added: "This would be an ideal site of expansion for industrial units.

"Bentham needs expansion and work for the local people and local youths, who will get the chance to become apprentices. They will then go on to live and spend the money they earn in Bentham."

And Coun Stephen Place said: "Here I see a reputable company offering real jobs of a real nature to the youth of Bentham.

"I wish them every success and if any other employees are looking in Craven I would like to promote this as a prime example."

Converted for the new archive on 30 June 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.