RESIDENTS fighting Tony Knowles plans to build a haulage yard along a dangerous stretch of road were left fuming, when a committee deferred the businessman s application for a second time. Planning officers at Fenland District Council received a speed su

RESIDENTS fighting Tony Knowles' plans to build a haulage yard along a dangerous stretch of road were left fuming, when a committee deferred the businessman's application for a second time.

Planning officers at Fenland District Council received a speed survey report for Manea Road, Wimblington, hours before Mr Knowles' application was due to be considered by the planning committee on Wednesday.

The committee ruled that more time was needed to consider the new report.

"How long is this going to go on for," said protester Jerry Smith when he left Fenland Hall on Wednesday.

Fellow protester Janet Lock, who lives next door to a massive pile of rubble on the former Dalgety Arable site, added: "This is starting to get ridiculous, but we will be back and we will continue to fight the plans."

Councillors were told at Wednesday's meeting that a speed survey report for the B1093 Manea Road was submitted by Mr Knowles' agent Peter Humphrey earlier the same day. Planning officers had insufficient time to evaluate the report.

Councillor Roger Green, chairing the planning committee in Councillor Martin Curtis' absence, moved to defer the application.

"It would be wrong to have a discussion about this application without knowing the information in this report," he said.

The application had been recommended for refusal, with planning officers concerned about highway safety and a lack of information about pollution to water.

It was originally deferred from the planning committee's last meeting to give Mr Knowles more time to revise the scheme.

The stretch of Manea Road, from a blind corner to its junction with the A141, has a poor accident record.

Mr Smith met highways officers last month to consider safety measures, such as introducing rumble strips and red asphalt, along the road.