A SPENNELLS resident fears a renewed bid to permit round the clock operations on a proposed industrial estate could lead to a "living hell" for residents.

Property development firm, The Easter Group, given council permission to build at Hoo Farm, Kidderminster, has now applied to extend operational hours, sparking concern among nearby residents.

The development, between the railway and the A449, is still speculative at present but looks set to include units for business and general industrial use, together with storage and distribution. Around 200 jobs could also be created on site.

When the application was first approved, Wyre Forest district councillors agreed to 17 units but to limit deliveries to the site to 7pm.

After withdrawing an initial application for a 24-hour operational facility, the firm is reapplying to vary the hours for different buildings and uses.

If given the green light, some of the buildings would be in operation 24 hours a day, although the applicant has stated, in the planning application, there would be no external work or deliveries after 11pm during the week or after 5pm on Saturday.

The amended application includes 10 units instead of 17, which would face away from the residents. A noise barrier has also been proposed.

Ian Siddall, of Garganey Court, still has reservations about the application, however, and is urging residents to air their concerns.

He said: "The Easter Group still want to extend their operational hours and we're concerned about the amount of noise, light, traffic and pollution this is going to produce.

"Not only will there be increased traffic but there will be noise from the air conditioning, the alarm system, refrigeration units and the general working going on in the units throughout the night. It will be a living hell for the residents."

The application to build the units was originally approved when councillors voted through the application with the need for development and new jobs overriding concerns about the impact on neighbours in March, 2004.

The Easter group's director, Peter Taylor said there was a possibility of 200 jobs being created. He added: "We have received planning consent but we did find the hours of work restrictive and not very workable for business today. So we have restricted uses of certain buildings and it should not be noisy, dirty or smelly, in return for a proposed extension to the hours of work."

He said panels to the rear of the building would be sound absorbent and barriers would be put in place to prevent noise from vehicles.

The council's planning committee will meet to discuss the amended terms in the application on Tuesday, March 7.