A BUS company has been stopped in its tracks as the council seeks government guidance to address environmental concerns.

Councillors deferred Tyrers Coaches' request to remove obligations to install an oil interceptor because the £50,000 cost places a "disproportionate" burden on the business.

Residents were outraged by the application to remove a condition initially agreed to at their request. They fear it could lead to contamination of public sewers.

However, planning officers recommended approving the application because the issue is "beyond the realms" of the council.

Speaking on behalf of Tyrers, Dan Matthewman argued that the condition is not necessary, reasonable or relevant to the planning authority.

Cllr Nick Peel, who described the request as "deplorable", raised the fact that the Environment Agency recommended using a containment method like an oil interceptor. He asked whether Tyrers will install the device.

Responding, Mr Matthewman said: "If the statutory regulators say it is necessary, he will do, but that has not been said."

READ MORE: Warnings of water contamination if bus depot plans approved

READ MORE: Neighbours rail against Tyrers Coaches for noise and dust

Kearsley councillor Julie Pattison accused the company of cutting costs while Cllr Debbie Newall questioned their credibility.

Cllr Pattison said: "The applicant is a commercial concern driven by profitability from sweating the use of its assets, the more that assets get sweated the more that controls in place will get ignored or bypassed."

Cllr Newall said: "If the costing of this installation is so prohibitive and it's such a burden on their business, another suggestion is that they take their business to a more suitable location where these kinds of installations aren't as necessary."

Cllr John Walsh warned that refusing the application could lead to an appeal. Instead, the committee voted to defer it in order to establish which agency is best placed to enforce the requirement.