CONCERNED Bidford residents staged a protest yesterday against plans to build a waste recycling centre in the village.

Members of Warwickshire County Council's regulatory committee inspected the proposed site at Wellington Road on the Waterloo Industrial Estate. Private company MRW want to convert the former Bidford Plant Hire site if the council agrees.

But residents are concerned about what effect the daily excess of 30 heavy goods vehicles will have on the surrounding area. The centre would be open from 7.30am to 6pm on weekdays and from 7.30am to 1pm on Saturdays.

Bidford Parish Council clerk Elizabeth Kidner said: "I know that at least 160 letters of objection have been sent to Warwickshire County Council and people do not want the proposal to go through." More than 100 villagers attended a public meeting in June to discuss their concerns.

One worried resident, who did not wish to be named, believes the centre would have far-reaching effects: "Everybody, particularly people who live along the road, are very upset. The noise and the traffic going past residents' houses, up a road which is not really suitable, is a cause of some concern."

The concerned villager also fears for residents on the industrial estate itself.

"The general feeling is that this type of waste disposal business is not suitable for this sort of industrial estate," he said.

Concerns about what effects additional dust and potential rodents would have on a nearby car dealership and food warehouse have been raised.

Jasbir Kaur, group manager of Warwickshire County Council's development group said: "There is a large amount of objections to this application. The committee members want to see the site for themselves before they make any decisions."

MRW is the company applying to open the waste transfer recycling centre. Owner Mike Williamson refused to comment further on the matter as the Journal went to press.