PLANS have been submitted to make a temporary gypsy and travellers site near Selby a permanent site.

An application to transform the former truck stop in Great North Road, South Milford into a gypsy caravan site, was approved by Selby District Council in 2012, and allowed the land to be used as a camp for five pitches with planning permission for cess tank drainage, communal washing and toilet facilities.

The plans, which were approved after an appeal, were granted on the understanding the camp would only operate until the end of 2014, but this week a new application was submitted to the council to request the removal of the time limit and make the site permanent.

Letters have been sent to about a dozen local residents and advertisements have been placed in local newspapers, with comments or objections open until May 14.

A number of residents objected to the original scheme in 2010, with Selby and Ainsty MP Nigel Adams joining the objections, and the Environment Agency have already said they have no objection to the latest plan.

The secretary of state ruled in 2010 that changes to the land "would cause harm to the Green Belt in a number of respects", but agreed that the temporary site could be built for use until the end of 2014 as work by the council meant "he can have a reasonable expectation that additional sites are likely to become available in the area by that time".

A decision is expected on the latest plans next month.