A COLONY of bats has been discovered in a disused building in Selby Cemetery, delaying a proposed office development on the site.

Groundwork Selby, a local regeneration charity, has applied to convert the derelict Longman Hills farmhouse, at Selby Cemetery, just off Langdale Grove, into offices, where its administration staff would be based.

The proposal was due to be heard by planning chiefs last week, but has now been deferred while a study into the bats' behaviour is carried out.

Coun John Mackman, Selby District Council's planning boss, said the survey would be passed on to English Nature (now Natural England), among others. He said: "At the back of the cemetery there was a farm originally.

"The farmhouse is still there, but boarded up. For some time, people have commented there could be bats around. They're a protected species so we have to carry out a survey."

Residents have hit out at the proposal, saying it is inappropriate for a business to be based in a graveyard, and that access to the site - from a small road off Langdale Grove - is unsuitable.

Barbara Dixon, 63, of Langdale Grove, was going to speak at the hearing into the application.

She said: "The cemetery is not the right place for a business, full stop.

"But there are health and safety issues regardless of that.

"When you get down to the nitty-gritty, there's no fire or ambulance access to the building."

She said she welcomed the delay in the scheme and she would continue to oppose the application.

The building is owned by Selby Town Council, which has made the application on behalf of Groundwork Selby.

Town clerk Tina Mason said: "We want to see the building retained and put to good use and so far, this has been the best suggestion we've had for such a use.

"We understand the concerns of residents. Our primary concern is that the cemetery is used as sensibly as possible. We wouldn't allow anything to compromise that, and we don't believe the traffic will be any greater than when the building was used as a working farm."

Coun Mackman said planning officers had also been asked to look at access issues on the site, along with proposals to put a car park and storage units there.