YORK residents concerned about a business park being built on their doorsteps are expected to flock to a public meeting this week.

The meeting, on Thursday, was called by Strensall Parish Council to give local residents more information about plans to turn The Tannery in Sheriff Hutton Road, Strensall, into a new business park.

The scheme was first submitted by Charles F Stead and Co last year, but was deferred to allow a traffic impact assessment to take place.

Last month it was deferred again because the size of the scheme had increased, and it is due to be discussed at a planning meeting on April 24. The outline plan is recommended for approval.

City of York Council planning officer Mick Britton will be attending the public meeting, which is being held at Robert Wilkinson Primary School in Westpit Lane, Strensall, from 7pm. The applicants are also expected to attend.

Philip Thorpe, chairman of the parish council, said: "There's been a lot of strong reaction to it (the planned scheme) by people in a very wide catchment area. Whilst the planning committee doesn't plan to discuss it until April 24 we decided we could get more of the public informed about it."

Mr Britton said he received 14 objections to the scheme after an extended consultation period.

Updated: 10:52 Tuesday, April 08, 2003