PROTESTORS yesterday succeeded in delaying plans to build new homes in their village.

About 20 villagers from Brotton heard councillors agree to defer making a decision until they have visited the site near Coach Road, in Brotton, near Saltburn.

The protestors, who had placards carrying the messages 'Don't Kill Our Wildlife' and 'Save Our Children', argued the new homes would cause damage to the environment.

Councillors at Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council Planning Committee at Eston Town Hall heard that exact details of how many homes and what type would be built had not been submitted.

Instead, just a basic outline permission for the 0.83 hectares of land to be developed for homes was being sought. However, it has been estimated that about 20 houses could be built there.

The council has received 42 letters of objection from villagers. Their cause has also been taken up by MP for Middlesbrough South and East Cleveland Ashok Kumar, borough councillor Brian Hogg, former councillor Richard Rudland, and Skelton and Brotton Parish Council.

A petition with 178 signatures has also been handed in to the council.

The objectors said that the development would cause traffic problems near a children's playground, destroy wildlife habitat, cause subsidence in what is an area once occupied by iron mineworkings, exacerbate flooding problems and increase the risk of vandals causing damage to a nearby railway.

Coun Hogg said: "There's a lot of feeling in the village about this one. People are very worried about the access road to the new homes. There would be poor visibility and it could be dangerous."

A council report advised that housing development would not destroy wildlife, the access road is satisfactory and fencing would be put up by the railway line.

Planners recommended councillors approve the plan as long as 15 conditions, many about road and train safety, were met.

However, councillors decided to see the area for themselves. Chairman of the committee Peter Spencer said: "The orderly protest outlines the depth of feeling. We thought there should be a site visit to allow residents to express what they think."