PLANS for a recycling centre at a transport yard in Worcester have suffered a setback after city councillors objected.

Blackpole Recycling applied to Worcestershire County Council to construct a building and use an existing yard as a recycling centre.

But city councillors, who were being consulted on the plans, said they were against granting planning permission because the building and recycling centre would be located on a flood plain and could put nearby houses and businesses at risk.

"This is a county matter and the county council will make the decision," said Peter Yates, principal planning officer for Worcester City Council.

Flood plain

"The reason why this committee objects is because the unit will sit in a flood plain of Barbourne Brook."

The Environment Agency also opposed the new industrial unit because it feared the position on the flood plain would reduce flood water storage.

Other firms on Blackpole Trading Estate, where Blackpole Recycling is based, said they were worried about environmental standards and parking.

But Coun Mike Layland, who sits on the council's planning committee, hit back.

"We say we should be recycling until we put in an application then people don't want to know," he said.