COUNCILLORS and business owners in Selby district have reacted furiously to plans to trial weight restrictions on a country road, forcing heavy goods vehicles through a built-up town centre.

North Yorkshire County Council plans to implement the trial restrictions on Milford Road between Sherburn-in-Elmet and South Milford.

The proposals come in response to concerns raised by residents living along Milford Road, also known locally as Low Street.

More than three years ago, speed humps were installed and ever since residents have complained about noise from heavy vehicles passing over them.

There is already a 7.5 tonne weight restriction on the route, but two local firms, Mytum and Selby and Sissons, are exempt.

In November, the county council's Selby area committee resolved to end that exemption, with a trial starting in February.

Steven Carrie, managing director at Mytum and Selby, says this will force heavy goods vehicles leaving his waste management and recycling firm - some weighing 44 tonnes - to go through Sherburn town centre to access the A162 bypass, putting children and elderly pensioners at risk.

He said: "We will refuse to go along with the implementation. This restriction will basically push all our heavy goods through the centre of Sherburn.

"Our site's been here since 1902. We have one entrance we share with the school for small vehicles, and that's not used by HGVs. The other one is our main and that brings all the traffic away from the centre of Sherburn.

"The restrictions are unreal. We try to reduce traffic as much as possible and are always looking at ways to make our vehicles cleaner, less noisy and more environmentally friendly."

Malcolm Dowson, the chairman of Sherburn Parish Council, backed Mr Carrie. He said: "I'm absolutely fuming about this to be honest.

"The county council haven't consulted with us on this and have failed to come forward with a meeting - they've fobbed us off. It's an accident waiting to happen."

But Coun Jim Snowball, county councillor for Sherburn and South Milford, said council officers had shown him emails informing the parish council of the consultation.

"He's talking emotional nonsense," he said. "It's a bit of a myth that it's a threat to children. Some heavy goods vehicles already use the route through Sherburn."

He said the restrictions could be lifted at any time if a problem arose.