RESIDENTS in Sutton have hit out at developers after bins to accommodate two multi-million pound developments have been sited on their doorstep.

Residents of Crofters Mill spoke out after discovering a paved area with trellis put up alongside their gardens would accommodate units for household waste.

The bins will serve residents of nearby Orchard Care Homes' recently completed £2.1 million, 60-bed care home and neighbouring flats, which will include 39 homes.

Despite residents being told the measure is temporary until around September when the flats are built, they claim they have been treated as "second class citizens".

Vicky Lloyd said: "What has really struck me the most is that we have been told to have the bins near us because the residents of the homes don't want them near them. That to me feels like we are second class citizens, we don't matter as much."

Miss Lloyd said they first discovered what was happening when they asked builders what they were constructing near their homes a couple of weeks ago.

She said: "They told us 'you're not going to like it, it's a bin site". We're absolutely mortified, we all use our gardens. We're not bothered about the buildings themselves, we knew there was going to be something built on that land, it will be very quiet and it has been nicely landscaped.

"But we all have children who play out in the garden and we are concerned about the smell and flies."

Fellow neighbour Les Joy added: "We're not against the things being built for older people, I might end up in there myself, we are against the way this has cropped up.

"The company is not satisfied with what it has already got, they didn't discuss anything with us until we are up in arms and it becomes a very big part of our lives."

Planning manager at LNT Construction Tracey Kay, sister company of Orchard Care Homes, confirmed the bin site was temporary.

She explained: "We are a small company at the end of the day and in the run up to getting everything ready this has just basically been an oversight. We are sorry for any upset."

Craven District Council planning officer Richard Preston confirmed his department was unaware of the move to temporarily site the bins. He was due to meet with environmental officers and ward representative Ken Hart last night (Thursday) to look at the site. He will then determine whether to ask the company to apply to retain the site temporarily or ask planning committee members if they wish to take enforcement action.

Coun Hart said: "I think residents have a genuine concern and I can understand their concerns. I will do what I can for them.

"Hopefully from the meeting we will come to some agreement, suitable to everyone."