TAXPAYERS are facing a massive bill for yet another public inquiry into plans for a service station on the A1.

The inquiry, which follows two previous ones in 1994 and 1997, is likely to leave Harrogate Borough Council and its taxpayers picking up a six-figure tab.

Angry councillors say it is not the authority's fault that another inquiry is taking place, and it should not have to meet the costs, having already footed the £175,000 bills for the previous two inquiries.

They say the Government is to blame for a third inquiry being needed, and it should, therefore, pay the bill.

But a government spokeswoman said it was the department's policy that all parties to an inquiry paid its own costs.

"This applies equally to individuals and organisations and to all cases, whether or not re-determination is involved."

The lengthy wrangle revolves around an application for a service station at Kirk Deighton, near Wetherby.

In the 1997 inquiry, the planning inspector rejected an application for the service station, but gave permission for another one at Kirby Hill, near Boroughbridge. This decision was backed by the Secretary of State.

The decision to refuse the Kirk Deighton application was made on the grounds that plans to upgrade the A1 were uncertain.

But the council appealed against this decision, arguing that announcements at the time meant the A1 upgrade was set to go ahead and it did not think this had been taken account of.

It took its challenge to the High Court, where judges confirmed that the Secretary of State should take the decision again and awarded the council its legal costs.

The Secretary of State's decision was quashed and the matter referred back for consideration.

This judgement was itself then the subject of an unsuccessful challenge made on behalf of the Secretary of State. This went to the Court of Appeal in December 2001, which upheld the High Court ruling.

The Secretary of State has now decided to hold a third inquiry into the applications at Kirby Hill, Kirk Deighton and three others.

Council leader Geoff Webber said: "We are faced with another public inquiry to deal with the five current outstanding planning applications. We do not think it is fair that this council should pick up any part of the bill."

The public inquiry will take place at the Hugh Ripley Hall, Ripon, on October 8.

Updated: 11:39 Monday, July 01, 2002