PLANS to create a commercial motocross track in a village near Selby have been met with opposition by residents who say that the site already creates too great a disruption.

An application has been submitted to Selby District Council for a track, together with parking for 60 cars, a portable building and toilets, on land next to Fryston Common Lane in Monk Fryston.

The application is in part a retrospective one as the land owner, Adrian Howell, of Normanton, Wakefield, currently uses the eight-acre site for private sporting activity.

Mr Howell is asking the council to approve the retention of the current facilities and extend them for commercial use.

Mark Johnson, chairman of Monk Fryston Parish Council, said the application had already attracted a number of objections within the village.

"The parish council is against the application on the grounds that the location is inappropriate.

"The access track is a single lane widely used by people for walking, cycling and horse-riding so there is a public safety issue. There is also the noise it is currently generating and the fact that they are applying for a larger facility."

Selby District Council's planning department have yet to make a recommendation about the application but confirmed that they had received a number of objections.

Cliff Middleton, planning officer, said: "There are certainly issues regarding the impact such a development would have on the character of the area, particularly a green belt site such as this."

Mr Howell said: "I bought the land a year ago because there is nowhere in the area for this kind of activity and I hope underprivileged and disabled children will be able to use the facility.

"The site will only be used three days a week between March and September and the local airfield creates far more noise than the bikes."

Mr Howell is currently preparing decibel readings for planning officers to aid their decision.

Updated: 15:11 Wednesday, June 18, 2003