ANGRY residents in Teesdale say they have been kept in the dark over plans to build a waste transfer and recycling plant on their doorsteps.

People living at Stainton Grove, near Barnard Castle, are furious that they were not consulted by Teesdale District Council or Durham County Council about the application by Premier Waste Management.

Stainton Grove was chosen by the county council from seven possible sites in Teesdale and approved in principle by the district council earlier this year.

About 20 residents were in the district council chamber for a meeting of the council's development control south committee on Wednesday.

A petition with 170 signatures has also been raised from the 155 homes in Stainton Grove.

They fear an increase in heavy traffic could be dangerous to children, and that the increase in the amount of waste at the site could lead to an infestation of rats.

Councillor Robin Simpson, chairman of the development committee and ward member for Stainton Grove, said: "There has not been any consultation with the people of Stainton Grove, which was promised by the county council.

"As the full council has recommended the site, all I can do is stress that the conditions applied should be carried out."

Other councillors proposed a site visit, which was approved by 11 votes to one.

After the meeting, Tony Cooke, 62, speaking on behalf of the residents, said: "We are not against a waste transfer station and we realise it is required for Teesdale - but not on this site.

"Premier Waste turned up to give a presentation and when we asked who we could object to they said it was a fait accompli and had already been decided, so there was no point in objecting."

A county council spokesman said: "We have consulted residents. About 100 residents attended the presentation. We put up a display, there was a 3D image of the site and we took on board all the comments from residents.

"The Environment Agency is monitoring the situation closely andso far seems happy with the proposal. However it's not necessarily a foregone conclusion."

Residents hope to meet district councillors and will be represented when the county council meets to discuss the application next month.