RESIDENTS say a council's decision to approve plans for a block of flats in their street was undemocratic and unfair.

Richmondshire District Council planning officers used their delegated powers to pass plans for four flats in Gallowfields Road, Richmond, yesterday.

The decision was taken despite calls for the application to go before a planning committee.

Gallowfields Road resident Chris Kinsell, 31, lives next door to the site of the development - currently a three-bedroom house that would be demolished to make way for the apartments.

He said the block of flats would be inappropriate for a street of detached and semi-detached houses.

"We feel we are not being represented and our views taken account of," said Mr Kinsell.

"We feel it would be fair and democratic for this to have gone before a planning committee."

Residents also say the development would create problems with parking and would increase traffic.

Myles and Anne Camm wrote to William Hague MP objecting to the plans.

Mrs Camm, 65, said: "The application goes against the council's own local plan and yet has been bulldozed through."

Ward district councillor Linda Curran could have requested the plans be sent to committee.

However, Coun Curran said she approved of the development.

"We spent a great deal of time and effort on this application," she said. "I spent something like five hours at site meetings.

"We did listen to residents' concerns and got the applicant to reduce the number of flats from four to five.

"Sometimes, however, we have to take tough decisions."

Ward councillor Stuart Parsons declared an interest and so was not allowed to become involved in the process.

Peter Featherstone, head of development control at Richmondshire District Council, said that only developments of five dwellings or more went automatically to committee.