PLANS to create an opencast mine and leisure and office developments powered by wind turbines near Durham are to go before a public inquiry.

A consortium of construction, mining and energy specialists - the Eco Energy Group - is fighting a decision to refuse permission to develop land at Old Quarrington, near Bowburn, Durham.

The group wants to create an opencast mine in the area, from which it will extract 750,000 tonnes of coal for three-and-a-half years, in which time the group is anticipating a bypass between Bowburn and Wheatley Hill will be built.

Plans for the bypass have already been approved and Eco Energy claims the road will create an isolated patch of land, on which it plans to build an office, hotel and leisure facilities. The company also plans to erect two wind turbines to power the development.

Martin Millmore, from The Mineral Planning Group, planning consultants for the Eco Energy Group, said: "The bypass will cut off eight hectares of land between the A1(M) and the Bowburn to Wheatley Hill bypass which will be isolated. So, we're proposing a mixed development which would create a whole host of jobs."

Planning permission to create the opencast mine was refused by Durham County Council in January.

The most recent part of the proposals to go before planning officials, to erect two 78m wind turbines at Old Quarrington, were turned down last week by Durham City Council.

Councillors felt the turbines, which would be situated 400m from homes, would dominate the landscape and spoil views of Durham Cathedral and castle, a World Heritage Site.

There has also been a forceful campaign against the plans from residents at Bowburn and Old Quarrington, who fear it would have a massive impact on their community. They have been backed by Durham City MP Gerry Steinberg.

Steve Raine, a resident of Old Quarrington, said they were also unhappy about the proposed office development, saying there were already plenty of empty units in Bowburn's industrial estates.

He said: "This development will be on what is now greenbelt land. There's no need for it. We would rather have horses running round."

Now Eco Energy has lodged appeals against the rejected planning applications.

The public inquiry into the plans will start on May 13, at Bowburn Community Centre