FOUR-BY-FOUR vehicles could soon be revving their engines in a quiet village near York - after proposals for a training course were recommended for approval.

Plans for the site off Askham Fields Lane, in Askham Bryan, have been submitted for the land to be used by students taking 4x4 driving courses run at nearby Askham Bryan Agricultural College.

But fears about increased noise and litter have been raised, as well as safety concerns about the dangers from an increased number of vehicles in the area.

In a letter to City of York Council, a representative from Askham Bryan Parish Council said: "I can see a dangerous situation when students cross over the Askham Fields Lane to the site as cars come both ways along the road at rather dangerous speeds already."

The parish council is also worried about the land not being used for its intended use - as agricultural land - and the impact on surrounding woodland.

But Paul Green, of Green Design Partnership, who is the agent for the development, said the site would give a boost to the facilities offered by the college, and would help students on 4x4 training courses.

The college already runs a number of these courses, some of which could be used by organisations like the National Trust and the Environment Agency.

Mr Green said the plans had been modelled on a similar Land Rover site just outside Skipton, and stressed there would be a low environmental impact as the site would only be used very occasionally.

Mr Green said: "At the moment, the site is used for this purpose and no one has complained about it to my knowledge. It is just making the existing land user-friendly."

He claimed the development would see trees and shrubs planted, "making good what is in effect derelict land".

Plans for a combined BMX and 4x4 training ground on the land were previously withdrawn in October 2006 after a backlash by residents.