COUNCILLORS have been advised to give their approval to an unauthorised caravan site operating in a village near Darlington.

Croft and District Working Men's Club and Institute has applied for planning permission to use land in Hurworth Road, Hurworth Place, for the caravan park, plus a sports pitch and car park.

Twenty-four letters opposing the scheme have been sent to Darlington Borough Council and both Hurworth Parish Council and Richmondshire District Council have objected.

But Darlington Borough Council officers have recommended that the council's planning committee approves the application at its meeting on Wednesday. In a report to the committee, planning officers says: "Up until the submission of this application, the use of the site has been unauthorised and unregulated and there have been difficulties in the use of the land and its impact on the locality.

"This application, should it be approved, represents an opportunity to control the use of the site through planning and licensing arrangements."

Protestors claim the site would change the character of Hurworth Place and Croft and devalue homes in the area.

And people said they were worried about a "transient population creating additional noise and disturbance" and increased pressure on local amenities.

Hurworth Parish councillors said: "The site has been used for caravans for many years and that is evident at night when the site is lit by artificial light.

"The site has been the subject of many complaints to the parish council over the years."

Richmondshire District Council said a caravan site would not be an appropriate use of land in what councillors described as a sensitive riverside landscape. Hurworth ward councillor Roderick Burtt said: "It's my opinion that the caravan site there is undesirable."

Council officers say the site is not prominent, does not detract from the landscape and is screened by trees.

Three letters of support have been received by the council.

No one at Croft Club could be contacted for comment.