PLANNING officials are opposing a bid to build 40 retirement apartments in a North Yorkshire village.

The high-quality apartments would be housed in a single three-storey building in Alderson House, Kirby Mills, Kirbymoorside, and would be geared towards the active retired.

But Kirbymoorside Town Council objected to the application, and town councillors have recommended refusal of the development, based upon the risk and consequences of flooding, a potential traffic increase, and that the green field site development would be outside the limits laid down in the Local Plan.

The development would be a mixture of two and one-bedroom apartments for over 55-year-olds.

Features would include lifts to all floors, a 24-hour care line, a guest

suite, intruder alarms, fitted kitchens and bathrooms with electric points at a height to avoid stooping, a telephone or video door entry security system and fire detection equipment.

Arrangements would be made for service charges and a house manager would be appointed.

Figures in the report show that Kirbymoorside has 34.9 per cent more pensioner-only households than the national average.

Bob Horne, clerk, of Kirbymoorside Town Council, said: "There were objections on a lot of grounds, not just the town council, but there were 18 or 19 people came to the town council meeting, which is the most we have ever had in the last three years. It's stirred up a lot of local feeling."

The council received 23 copies of a circulation letter and 26 letters of objection. Reasons included over crowding of Kirbymoorside, traffic problems, water supply and the area being of historical interest.

The applicants, Mr and Mrs Coates, declined to comment.

Members of the Northern Area Planning Committee will discuss the application tonight at 6pm at the Members' Lounge, Ryedale House, Malton.

Updated: 09:38 Monday, April 28, 2003