CAMPAIGNING residents were today fighting another "Battle of Marston Moor" in an effort to defeat controversial stone-crushing plans.

More than 50 Tockwith villagers were travelling by minibus to a meeting in Northallerton today to voice concerns.

They are angry at plans for a huge 100-ton-a-day stone-crushing plant near Marston Moor Airfield.

They claim this will spell more traffic and dust and noise pollution.

Revised plans are recommended for approval by North Yorkshire County Council. They were backed for approval in January - when 200 objections were lodged - but councillors backed villagers and said the 200ft plant failed proximity rules.

Local councillor Julian Sturdy said he hoped they would be thrown out once again.

"This would have a devastating impact on the village, certain areas would be subject to dust and noise pollution. People are shocked it is back before the council again so soon but are geared up to really fight this again."

He claimed there was no demand for such a business, with the majority of companies disposing or re-cycling old rubble on construction sites.

Revised plans now state most crushing work would be carried out inside the plant.

Other restrictions listed include strict controls on working hours and noise and dust emissions. Delivery vehicles will be sheeted and limited to five movements to and from the plant each working day.

However, strong protests have also been raised by Harrogate Borough Council, local parish council and residents' groups.

But county council planning officers back the scheme and say there are no grounds for objection over noise and dust alone.

They point to Tockwith being 650 metres away from the proposed base and not being classed as countryside in the district council's local plan.

Applicants RJ Howard Engineering, which has an appeal pending against the original decision, said in a statement to the council, all operations, including stockpiling, would take place in a bigger building, with materials deposited either in the stockpile area or in front of the screen or crusher.

The statement said: "This will finally mitigate any perceived problem areas relating to noise or dust, which will be fully contained."

Updated: 10:49 Tuesday, December 02, 2003