MEMBERS of the North York Moors National Park planning committee have voted in favour of a £2 billion potash mine.

The proposal by Sirius Minerals to build the mine near Whitby, came after around 1.3 billion tonnes of polyhalite was discovered below the protected Yorkshire coastline - believed to be the world's biggest and best quality supply of the valuable mineral.

The firm has said the discovery of the mineral, which is processed to make premium potash fertiliser, could create more than 1,000 jobs and generate £1.5 billion a year.

The York Potash Project would see a 1,500-metre mine sunk beneath the park, which would tunnel outwards and pump the polyhalite underground around 30 miles north to Teesside, where it would be processed.

The mine will be located around 4km south of Whitby on the B1416, near the village of Sneaton.

After a day-long planning meeting at Sneaton Castle, attended by more than 300 people, councillors voted in favour of giving the mine planning permission.

The decision will undoubtedly dismay environmentalists, who have warned that the mine would cause huge damage to the unique landscape of the national park.

Fears have also been raised about the precedent of agreeing planning permission for an industrial development in a national park.

However the arguments for the mine included the creation of up to 1,000 jobs, and an increase of up to ten per cent in the North Yorkshire economy.

First to speak at the meeting was Keith Robert, who lives next door to Dove's Nest Farm, where the mine will be sunk.

He told the meeting: "I'm aware there will be considerable disruption for the next four to five years, especially for all of us living close to the site, but I feel we have been gifted a huge opportunity here."

He said as well as local opportunities, it would "increase the world food supply for years to come", adding, "the short-term pain will give rise to massive long-term rise."

Barry Dodd, chair of the area's Local Enterprise Partnership, also reiterated the proposal's potential to increase food production for the world's growing population with the crop nutrient produced.

He described the project as the "biggest single investment project in the North of England by a country mile".

He said it could help lessen the UK's productivity gap, reduce the trade gap by 2.5 per cent and help balance the North / South economic divide.

Ruth Bradshaw from the Campaign for National Parks was one of those urging members to reject the proposals.

She said members had responsibility to consider whether the plans contributed to the purpose of the national park.

The charity representative said the proposals were "completely incompatible" with the highly protected environment of a national park. She said the government agency Natural England were concerned at the potential "huge damage" and their objection "should not be taken lightly".