FARMERS and tourist leaders are up in arms over standby plans to use a disused quarry in Ryedale to dispose of foot and mouth livestock carcasses.

Brigadier Andrew Farquhar of Imphal Barracks, York, and MAFF bosses have been looking at the Golden Hill Quarry site, at Marton, near Pickering, as part of contingency plans.

But quarry owner Eric Clark says carcasses will only be burned on the site if the Government forces him to hand over the site to MAFF and the army.

MAFF has denied infected carcasses or slaughtered animals from farms near infected sites will be imported to the site.

A spokeswoman told our reporter that the site would only be used in the event of a foot and mouth outbreak in Ryedale.

Kin Binks, who owns the Pheasant Hotel, in Harome, said he was "appalled" when he learned of plans for the quarry.

He claims villagers in northern Ryedale would be prepared to protest and block roads if MAFF went ahead with its plans. "Tourism in this area is only just getting back on its feet and the last thing we need is carcasses being burned here," he said.

Pat Dickinson, who keeps a small number of livestock in Marton, said she was surprised MAFF was considering using the site. "There is a bit of panic among local farmers here because they are concerned this course of action will spread the disease," she said.

Philip Bell, who manages livestock owned by Habton Farms, in the Sinnington area, said he was shocked at MAFF's latest move.

"The site is only about half a mile away from the river and if infected blood gets into the water table that will spell disaster for local farmers," he said.

"So far, through our best efforts, we have managed to keep the disease out of Ryedale and we want to keep it that way."

But quarry owner Eric Clark has accused protesters of "undermining everything that is being done to revitalise tourism in Ryedale."

He said: "I am hardly likely to allow dead animals to be put right next to those fields." Mr Clark said no money had changed hands, but he does expect "some form of compensation" if the quarry is used. "At the moment though, I haven't given permission. No way."

A MAFF spokesman said a number of possible sites had been investigated to assist with their Livestock Welfare Disposal Scheme. But the spokesman said Wombleton airfield had been struck off the list of potential sites.

"There is no question of bringing infected carcasses into uninfected areas for disposal," she said. "One of the sites we have been looking at, which includes Golden Hill quarry, will be used to dispose carcasses from the local area only if there is an outbreak."

John Greenway has written to MAFF minister Joyce Quinn asking for a confirmation that no foot and mouth infected carcasses from outside Ryedale will be disposed of at Marton.

He told the minister that investigating possibilities in the event of a local outbreak was a very sensible and welcome precaution. A number of local farmers and residents had asked him to seek assurances from the ministry.

A spokesman from Ryedale District Council said MAFF was keeping it informed of all plans. "Ryedale, like other areas of the country, is being examined in case the disease strikes here," said the spokesman.

"This is part of routine planning, being undertaken in conjunction with the Ministry of Agriculture, the Environment Agency, the Health and Safety Executive and a number of other agencies."

- MAFF has confirmed another outbreak at a farm at Aysgarth, near Leyburn. Around 550 sheep and 50 cattle at the farm have been slaughtered on suspicion of having the disease and as a result livestock on five other premises were to be slaughtered.

Updated: 09:23 Thursday, April 26, 2001