A PROPOSED waste management facility in Leyland has caused concern for a South Ribble councillor who believes it will increase traffic on Leyland's congested roads.

Farington councillor Mark Alcock has voiced his concerns about the proposed development of the facility at Lancashire Enterprises Business Park, Centurion Way, in Leyland.

The site -- if given the green light -- will receive 150,000 tonnes of separated recyclable waste, 20,000 tonnes of non-separated recyclable waste and 100,000 tonnes of compost per year, as outlined by a planning officer for Lancashire County Council.

This will have to be transported to further sites, requiring 400 heavy goods vehicles to visit the facility daily, according to Lancashire County Council planners.

Liberal Democrat councillor Mark Alcock said: "The 400 extra HGV's on the road will only exacerbate the problem of Leyland traffic. There has been an increase in asthma and bronchial disease nationally and locally and the pollution from more vehicles is not going to help."

A spokesman from Lancashire County Council's environment department said: "The waste management site is a more sustainable method of waste management than landfill. The compost can be transported for commercial use and everything will be recycled."

The planning application is expected to be assessed by the county council before being discussed by the authority's development control committee in the near future.