VILLAGERS have vowed to fight a waste company plan to site rubbish skips yards from a caravan park.

Durham County Waste Management wants to open a recycling depot in a compound behind the Oakleaf caravan park at Wolsingham, on a bridleway known as Sawmill Lonnen.

Residents fought off a similar proposal in 2001, but the company says it has looked at other possible locations and this is the most suitable replacement for its waste dump at Browns Houses, Frosterley.

Wolsingham Parish Council has already told the company it will oppose any planning application.

District councillor Vere Shuttleworth and county councillor John Shuttleworth have both suggested an alternative site off the A689, at Windy Nook.

Coun Vere Shuttleworth said: "This is simply in the wrong place, but they don't listen to what we say.

"The Windy Nook site has better access and can be well screened. They say they have rejected it because it is in an area of high landscape value, but so is the one they have chosen. It seems it will be imposed on us and that makes me very, very angry."

Mark Robson, from caravan site owners Robsons of Wolsingham, said he would fight the plan.

There are fears that holidaymakers will move out, depriving village shops and pubs of summer trade.

The proposals include level hard standing for up to seven skips where people could dump paper, glass and other waste for recycling.

There would also be open skips for items including garden refuse and separate areas for gas bottles, car batteries and oil.

The compound would be fenced and manned from a site office. Opening times would be broadly in keeping with daylight hours. A Durham County Council spokeswoman said the location had been moved away from a nearby house since the original proposal was dropped.

She said: "We are working towards submitting a planning application. There will be full consultation with residents as part of the planning process."