TOWN councillors are calling for a wider public consultation over plans to dump waste on a site near to a residential area. But members of Royston Town Council have been assured that toxic waste will not be taken to the site which appears to be being prep

TOWN councillors are calling for a wider public consultation over plans to dump waste on a site near to a residential area.

But members of Royston Town Council have been assured that toxic waste will not be taken to the site which appears to be being prepared for an eventual housing development.

Residents on the Coombelands estate and in Burns Road are concerned about work to be undertaken on three sites which are located between residential areas and the A505 Royston bypass.

The land has for many years been earmarked for a housing development and Fairview Homes is seeking permission from Herts County Council to create earth bunds and a belt of parkland on the sites nearest to the A505.

Councillors believe that this is preliminary work to the developers submitting a planning application for the development of the sites.

Residents in the area have raised concerns about the kind of waste that will be dumped on the sites - and the question of access to the sites while the work is carried out.

Councillor Robert Smith told the town council's Planning Committee that residents need to be told about the extent of the work. "There needs to be a proper public relations exercise," he said. "The county council needs to explain the situation."

He continued: "Residents believe that this is the thin edge of the wedge and are worried about the waste which will be dumped there."

There have been nearly 20 complaints from residents about the scheme after the county council distributed a letter outlining the work which Fairview Homes was planning to undertake.

Councillor Lindsay Davidson said that "the bottom line" was that residents had not appeared to have been proper details about the work. "There has been a lack of communication," she said.

Councillor Rod Kennedy said, however, that the waste material would be building rubble and "material that is safe".

"No-one will be allowed to put toxic waste on the site," he said.

He suggested that perhaps Fairview Homes would consider attending a public meeting to outline its plans for the sites.

In a statement the county council said that Fairview Homes had submitted a planning application to provide bunding and parkland on the site.

"As with all applications it must be considered on merit and on planning grounds through the standard development control pro-gress," it said.

The statement added that residents have the right to comment or object to the plans which will "be taken into account before a decision is made".