The mill is the NHS's largest toilet tissue supplier

Planners are recommending that an application by Swedish firm SCA Hygiene for an expansion of their works in Oakenholt Mill, near Flint should be rejected when it is discussed by councillors on Wednesday.

But there are fears that the firm will close the mill and move away if the plans to expand the plant onto neighbouring farmland, increasing the size by nearly 80% are not approved.

The plant currently employs about 80 people who producing toilet tissue for commercial premises and is the largest supplier of the product to the NHS.

The company needs production facilities in the UK and we'll have to find a place for that Brian Parkinson, SCA Hygiene

Members of the East Oakenholt Residents Association objected to the plans after learning that the expansion would reach within 15 metres of the back of nearby gardens.

Steve Grindley, who set up the opposition group in response to the planning application, said that people were "very upset and annoyed" at the proposals.

"It will be very noisy and there will be a big increase in traffic if it gets the go ahead," he said.

Another resident, who asked not to be named, said: "Everyone is feeling very annoyed about this.

"It is a residential area and most of the development in Flint is on the other side of the town.

"Everyone wants progress but not in a residential area, especially when there are other sites very near by which could be used," she added.

Over development

Flintshire planners agreed saying that the extension would be "significantly detrimental" to the amenities of local people.

The plans show that the factory wants to sink the new building into the ground so the roof would be at ground level and a high quality landscape scene was also planned.

Brian Parkinson from SCA Hygiene said the Oakenholt Mill needed to expand.

"The company needs production facilities in the UK and we'll have to find a place for that," he said.

"We're progressing on the basis that we'd very much like to expand Oakenholt."

But the plans have already been objected to by Flint town councillors who said it was a "gross overdevelopment".