Plans to build a large waste recycling plant have been rejected.
Bakers Waste's application to relocate from Glen Parva to a site in South Wigston was rejected on Thursday.
Leicestershire County Council's development control board voted 10 to two against the scheme – rejecting the advice of planning officers.
Councillors said the scheme was unacceptable on traffic, noise and odour grounds.
The firm had wanted to process 50,000 tonnes of commercial waste a year at the site in Magna Road.
More than 2,000 people had signed a petition against the scheme.
South Wigston county councillor Bill Boulter said: "I am very pleased this has been turned down.
"There was a great deal of concern among residents about having such a large waste site near them.
"The big worry was the number of lorries that would have been generated.
"We are aware there may be an appeal, though."
Harborough MP Edward Garnier said: "I am delighted the county council has turned this application down.
"To have sited this waste disposal site in this residential part of South Wigston would have been a disaster environmentally and in terms of safety of road users and pedestrians.
"The site is very close to the Guthlaxton College campus, Blaby Road is already hugely overcrowded and residents would have seen the quality of their lives much reduced by the massive number of lorry movements in and out of the site, not to ignore the noise and other unwelcome consequences of its being right next door to them."
Bakers Waste managing director Paul Baker said his company needed to move from Glen Parva because the county council would not grant it permanent permission to operate there because of previous odour problems.
He said: "I'm not surprised by the decision. Officers thought this was the right development in the right place but it seems the councillors didn't agree."
He said he was likely to appeal.
At the same meeting, councillors approved plans to overhaul one of County Hall's own recycling sites , in Whetstone.
Work will include improving the layout, access and parking and is set to begin early next year.
The £3.4 million project will include the creation of a recycling and waste disposal area.
Changes to vehicle access will help to reduce congestion.
Richard Blunt, county council cabinet member for waste management, said: "We are delighted that work on this scheme can progress.
"These improvements will make access to the site easier and will see facilities improved in general."
