RESIDENTS on the Marsh estate are hoping that planners throw out a scheme to develop a glue factory on their doorstep. Ultramark, an adhesives producer, wants to extend its factory on to land behind Coronation Field. The City Council will decide whether or not to give them the green light at a public meeting on Monday night and will hear objections to the plan from green activists.

Mike Stuart, a boss at the factory, refused to rebut claims that the town would lose a public amenity, that wildlife would be killed off and that building on the field could cause a health risk.

A resident of nearby Willow Lane, Sandra Greaves said: "The land has now become a natural habitat but it is regularly tested for methane - if this material is disturbed I think it could become a health risk to children."

Jon Barry from the Green Party added: "Not only is this an outrageous application, it is completely against the council's local plan. There is plenty of space inside the industrial estate for expansion without killing wildlife and wrecking an important local amenity.

"I sincerely hope that the planning committee will throw out the application."

The Greens are now trying to have the land designated as a Town Green by the government to ensure its future survival.

If the extension goes ahead ten new jobs could be created.

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