PLANNERS are to debate a controversial housing scheme near a nature reserve for the fourth time after 116 people objected to the development.

Stockton Borough Council’s planning unanimously rejected the plan to build 45 homes near the nature reserve south of Cayton Drive in Thornaby.

But developers Mandale Construction North won an appeal forcing the authority to accept the proposal and being fined.

Since then councillors have twice decided to defer a decision on approving important, finer details of the scheme and have cited worries about the adequacy of an access road arguing another is needed.

Now Mandale Construction managers, frustrated at the delays, have submitted a second appeal with the Government’s Planning Inspectorate based on Stockton council’s “non-determination” of the issue.

That has led planning officers to put the issue back on the agenda and it will be discussed once again by the planning committee on Wednesday, October 19 at 1.30pm in Stockton Central Library. The councillors won’t be able to make an officially valid decision until the Planning Inspectorate decides whether Mandale Construction’s latest appeal can be taken further. However the councillors can give an indication of their decision which, if it was to approve the proposal as it stands, would almost certainly bring the matter to an end.

A key sticking point is the lack of a second road to the new homes, which are close to an existing estate and objectors say traffic could become dangerous. However Stockton council officers say that is not a good enough reason to halt the development.

The council report said: “It is strongly suggested that the lack of a second access for the site not be used as a reason for refusal as there is no technical support for such an objection from the council’s professional officers.”

However Thornaby councillor Mick Moore has written to the committee urging his colleagues to insist on a second road Other objections have come from former Stockton mayor, Cllr Ian Dalgarno, who worried about the loss of more protected ‘Green Wedge’ land and more of Tees Heritage Park. Thornaby Town Council and the Friends of Tees Heritage Park (FTHP) have also objected.

A letter from FTHP to the council acknowledged the lost appeal and suggested a, “more imaginative design approach,” as a possible compromise solution.

Others objected on the grounds of the impact on wildlife and drainage. There was one letter of support.