PROTESTORS fighting plans for a waste and recycling plant near their homes have refused to give up their battle, despite county councillors approving the proposal.

After a nine-month campaign, Durham County Council's planning committee ignored an attempt by members of an action group to block the scheme.

Representatives of the Stainton Grove Action Group, which was formed last year to fight the proposal by Premier Waste Management to build a recycling and waste transfer station close to their housing estate, pleaded with councillors to throw out the plans during a meeting at Durham County Hall yesterday.

They argued that the development would not be adequately screened by trees, that vermin, dust and smells would be a health risk and a nuisance, and that trucks going to and from the site would be dangerous to local people.

The action group also said the development would make it almost impossible for them to sell their homes and that Teesdale District Council, which was consulted about the application, had ignored other possible sites.

Speaking during the meeting, action group co-ordinator Ruth Renton said: "There is no written evidence that six other sites were ever investigated and it therefore seems to us that Stainton Grove has been targeted, not selected.

"We have done our homework and contacted the Ombudsman, and as we speak the Ombudsman is at Teesdale District Council looking into this."

But despite Mrs Renton and action group chairman Tony Cooke speaking against the plans, councillors voted in favour of the application, which had been recommended for approval by the county council's head of planning, John Suckling.

Premier Waste Management's director of engineering, Alan Hodgson, had earlier told the committee that the company had held an exhibition at Stainton Grove Community Centre last June to explain the proposals.

He also assured members that vermin numbers and vehicle movements would be closely monitored.

But the action group remained defiant despite the outcome of the meeting.

Speaking after the vote, Mrs Renton said: "To be honest we expected this decision because we have been up against it from the word go.

"But we are not beaten yet. We will be in touch with the Environment Agency and other bodies because we are determined to keep fighting."