Plans to build a works site next to a hotel and leisure area are set to get the go-ahead next week - despite a strong opposition from Ashby de la Zouch Town Council.

A road related storage, maintenance and management facility with associated site works is scheduled to be built on land at Flagstaff Islands next to the junction with the A42.

But this currently is occupied by a Premier Inn/Brewers Fayre hotel, a series of takeaway outlets and a filling station.

At a recent planning meeting, Ashby councillors voiced their concerns and suggested it could 'kill off' the hotel currently serving the town.

Cllr Dan Harrison was particularly unhappy about the project and called-in the application to be debated at next Tuesday's meeting of North West Leicestershire District Council planning committee meeting.

He suggested a cinema would be better suited to the site with a number of leisure facilities already there.

At the time, Cllr Harrison - who is also chairman of Leicestershire County Council - said: "It is important because it is going to damage the only hotel we have in Ashby now.

"And to put the clumsy, monstrosity of a building there, you have to think of all the noisy lorries coming in and out.

'It's absolutely disastrous and does not follow the original plan.

"It would kill off the hotel and be an absolute carbuncle at the entrance to Ashby forever and a day.

"We have to be diligent about this.

"The land has value as it stands."

Next week's agenda says that objections have been raised by a number of residents, by the Ashby de la Zouch Civic Society, on behalf of the operator of a nearby hotel, and by Ashby de la Zouch Town Council who oppose the development due to:

• Pollution / exposure to hazardous materials, including from aggregate storage / dust and

lorry fumes

• Noise

• Increased traffic / risk of accidents

• Contrary to Local Plan policies as the proposals are not a road related services facility,

But the meeting will hear that the district council believes the proposed development is considered to represent an appropriate form of development in accordance with the outline planning permission, and would provide for an acceptable standard of design to meet the Local Planning Authority's design objectives.

It also says the new site will be used in conjunction with the filling station operators.

The agenda adds: "The unit is intended to be occupied in the first instance by the operators of the adjacent road related services in connection with the operation / administration of these services, as well as other service stations operated by the applicant elsewhere in the country.

"The proposed unit would include ancillary office space, and two service yards, one located to the north western side of the unit, and a second one located to the north eastern part of the site.

"This north eastern service yard would incorporate vehicle and plant parking areas; as originally submitted, this part of the site was also proposed to be used for external storage of aggregates (advised by the applicant as proposed to be used for the storage of materials such as grit and other aggregates (e.g. sand) for use in external repairs / works at the applicant's network of service stations).

"However, in response to neighbour concerns, the applicant has removed this element of the proposals.

"Two vehicular accesses are proposed, both served from Lountside. The principal car parking area to the front of the unit would be accessed from the existing estate road which serves the adjacent filling station and shop, coffee outlet and fast food restaurant.

"The second access would be created at the existing turning head at the north eastern end of Lountside, and would serve the proposed service yards.

"It is therefore considered that the proposed scheme would be acceptable, and approval is recommended."

Ashby town councillors' concerns have been overturned in previous district council meetings such as when granting permission for the new G-Park warehouse complex at Corkscrew Lane and the new secure unit off Tamworth Road - formerly the Loudon House care home.