York councillors approved a Park & Ride scheme next to a sewage works without being fully informed of Yorkshire Water concerns about flies and smells.

Evening Press inquiries have revealed that the water company warned City of York Council in July, 1997, that, from time to time, users of the Rawcliffe Bar Park & Ride - which opens next month - would inevitably encounter fly and odour nuisance.

And the company's planning officer (development control), Mike Wimpenny, said: "I strongly recommend that the views of your environmental health section are sought on these matters prior to determination of the application."

But a 49-page report by council officers to later meetings of York's planning and transport committee made no mention of flies, nor of the advice to seek the environmental health department's views.

The report simply said Yorkshire Water had "noted there would be odour problems from the sewage works."

Yorkshire Water has now sought to reassure people that, despite its comments in the letter, there would not be a real fly problem because of the type of sewage treatment carried out at Rawcliffe and rigorous fly control policies at such sites. York planning officer Ian Thomson said today that members had seen for themselves the proximity to the sewage works when they visited the site, and residents had raised the potential odour problems.

"Flies would normally be associated with a sewage works but were not considered to be a significant issue on the Park & Ride site itself. Yorkshire Water did not recommend refusal of the application.

"The issues arising from the proximity were discussed with Environmental Health colleagues, who recognised that smells would be apparent on occasions and members would have to consider the matter, along with all the other considerations, which they did."

Rawcliffe/Skelton councillors Irene and Mark Waudby said today they accepted that councillors had been well aware of potential odour problems from the sewage works, but still felt it was important the committee should be given the full facts before making such an important decision. "If this is true, it's an omission which should not have happened," said Coun Irene Waudby.

Martin Bashforth, spokesman for the York Northern Gateway Group, which was set up to oppose the park and ride scheme, said: "This just backs up something we have said all along. We have never been getting the full picture from the council."

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