CAMPAIGNERS have been left disappointed after a decision on the future of a Teesdale town green they are hoping to save from development was postponed.

Residents and councillors from Barnard Castle embarked on the over 50-mile round trip to County Hall, in Durham City, on Friday to make representations - only to be told the deliberation would not go ahead until May 11.

The group were there to hear members of the council’s highways committee discuss Barnard Castle Town Council’s application for Bede Kirk, the copse outside the town’s former police station, to be registered as a village green.

Councillors heard the residents’ group had submitted further evidence at about 3pm the previous day which the solicitor for the land owner, Durham Constabulary, said did not leave them with sufficient time to respond.

David Stacey, who launched a petition to ‘save’ the space with Sophie Ebeling, said the group was disappointed by the resolution to defer the decision date.

He added: “The reason extra information was submitted was because the county council legal department said they thought our witness statements weren’t sufficient. They told us that a week ago. They recommended it for refusal so we had to do something.

"They have a lawyer, we have people. They have money and we have none. People have taken the day off work to get here. We won’t stop until the fat lady sings.”

Barnard Town Council submitted its application after it came to light that Railway Housing Association was in talks with Durham Constabulary - both of which have objected to the proposal.

But the application was recommended by refusal by the council’s head of legal and democratic services, Helen Lynch, who said there was not enough evidence to suggest a “significant” amount of people used the site and a continuous 20-year use could not be proved from the seven supporting letters received.

In response, the campaign group called on the public to come forward if they had used the green over the past two decades and Mr Stacey understands a further nine responses were submitted.

Mayor of Barnard Castle, Cllr Sandra Moorhouse, asked committee member Cllr James Rowlandson to inquire if the next meeting can be held in the town.

She said: “We’ve come all the way here so it would be nice for them to come to us.”

Members also agreed that no more information could be submitted by either party.