A HAULAGE boss facing closure has criticised planners for not making enough industrial land available in Ryedale.

John Fenwick has run his business from Park Road, Norton, for nearly two years after moving from premises in Norton Grove.

He is currently jointly appealing with neighbouring agricultural supplies firm Yorkshire Northern Woolgrowers against an enforcement notice served by Ryedale District Council.

It orders they discontinue use of the land as a heavy goods vehicle haulage depot, stop using it for vehicle repairs, remove any tools, machinery and equipment used in connection with repairs, remove sandblasting equipment and clear the site of all vehicles and trailers.

Mr Fenwick, who has a workforce of about 10 full and part-time people, told the Evening Press he had made every effort to find alternative premises.

"I am looking for another place - but it's like hitting my head against a brick wall," he said.

"It's all right the council saying they don't want a business like mine in a residential area. But where else am I to go?

"The planners just haven't made the industrial land available. There has been some come up at the town's York Road Industrial Estate, but we've not been able to get anything.

"I could expand a lot on the maintenance side of the business, but there doesn't seem a lot of point if I'm going to be closed down by all this.

"I've put a lot of money into this business and have some good people working for me - what would happen to them if I was forced to pack it in?"

Mike Moffoot, head of planning at Ryedale District Council, rejected Mr Fenwick's argument.

"We are required to provide a certain amount of industrial land by the Government," he said.

"Recently an additional five-and-a-half acres has been released at the York Road Industrial Estate and we are constantly forward planning for future demand."

The council says dust and noise associated with the business "detract from the amenities" of those living in the area and believes Park Road is not a suitable access because of its width, lack of footpaths and substandard junction with Welham Road.

* One of Mr Fenwick's drivers, Toni Ennis, was in the news last year when he managed to get his truck home to Norton after a delivery to France in spite of the port barricades by striking French drivers.

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