PRIME Minister David Cameron’s in-laws have condemned plans to build an abattoir close to their stately home near York.

Councillors will today decide whether to allow the slaughterhouse to be created in the village of Sutton-on-the-Forest.

Officials have recommended it for approval, but Sir Reginald Sheffield, the father of Mr Cameron’s wife Samantha, and his wife, Lady Sheffield, say the scheme should be turned down because it risks harming their Sutton Park home’s reputation as a tourist attraction. The proposed abattoir would be within half a mile of the Sheffields’ grounds.

The proposal, by Chris Hodgson, is to turn a former pig-rearing building at Sutton Grange, in York Road, into an abattoir, eventually creating up to eight jobs.

Mr Hodgson said it would help local farmers by cutting the distances they travel with cattle, sheep and pigs for slaughter, as well as reducing distress to the animals.

About 40 letters of opposition have been sent to Hambleton District Council, claiming the abattoir would create noise, odour and traffic problems.

The letter from Sir Reginald and Lady Sheffield and the trustees of the Sutton Park Maintenance Fund said they objected “most strongly”.

The letter said: “Sutton Park is a Grade I historic house with a heritage garden and a parkland of national importance.

“The grounds for our objection are the noise and smells emanating from the slaughterhouse, which would have a damaging effect on the grounds of Sutton Park, which is open to the public.

“Sutton Park has carefully built up its business over the last 40 years and we consider all the work to make it an important North Yorkshire tourist attraction will all be undone if this development goes ahead.” One local objector, J David Denial, copied a letter to the council outlining his “shock, horror and disbelief” to Mr Cameron, saying: “It is about time politicians should really start to listen to us.”

However, the plans have received 35 letters of support, including 26 from farmers who said the abattoir would be a “key chain” in the local agricultural industry, and been backed by a 77-name petition.

In a letter of support, the Association of Independent Meat Suppliers’ policy director, Norman Bagley, said: “In addition to providing improved marketing opportunities for local farmers, helping to make local food more available to local consumers and creating environmental and animal welfare benefits, the abattoir development will also create business growth and a number of much-needed new skilled employment opportunities.

“We have many examples of members throughout the country operating small abattoirs such as this without causing problems to their neighbours.”

David Boulton, a partner with York property firm Carter Jonas, Mr Hodgson’s agent, said: “The nature of the proposed use as an abattoir clearly gives rise to an emotive response and perhaps misconceptions.

“There would be no undue generation of noise, smells or other nuisance associated with the use which is likely to give rise to concerns. The day-to-day operation of the premises would be suitably discreet and no more intrusive than the previous activity at this site.”

A planning report going before today’s meeting said council officers felt there would be “no effect on the environment in respect of noise, smells and visual impact” if the abattoir was correctly managed and complied with regulations, and “the use will not easily be apparent to visitors to the area”.