A PROPOSAL to build a road and car park to access a piece of woodland would be "a terminal cancer on the land", objectors claimed this week.

Members of Darlington development committee eventually agreed to hold a site visit before deciding about the application for the site off Barmpton Lane.

The road would run for 750 metres from the lane to Hutton plantation where a car park for ten or 12 vehicles would be built.

The site visit was agreed after the intervention of Coun John Williams, committee member and leader of the council, who agreed with some of the objectors' sentiments.

"I can see no point in building an access road to non-descript fields," he told Wednesday's meeting.

Mr M Corney, who owns the land at Skerningham Manor Farm, has already begun to develop the land as a countryside gateway site in conjunction with Tees Forest.

Nearby residents fear that such an enterprise will increase poaching, trespassing, drug abuse and theft and damage at neighbouring farms and homes.

Objectors also believe it would lead to a rapid decline in the wildlife in the area.

Mr Brian Pavey, spokesman for the 18 objectors, appealed to councillors not to approve the application.

"There are already established public footpaths and stiles giving access to Mr Corney's enterprise at Skerningham Manor from all four corners of the compass," he said.

"It is not difficult to see the long-term ambitions and aims of Mr Corney and his associates.

"This proposed road will be a terminal cancer upon these lands and will spread at a rapid rate, engulfing the villagers of Barmpton and its close residents.

"The road is unneccessary and is not wanted and we recommend that the plans be dismissed as unsatisfactory and detrimental in the public's interest."

Coun Frank Robson, committee chairman, felt they could determine the application there and then but several members disagreed and sought a site visit, which would also deal with confusion over the exact site of the road and car park.

After the meeting Mr Peter Cheeseborough, the tenant farmer who farms the land next to the proposed road, said: "It will cut my land in half and affect my livelihood.

"The whole proposal is ridiculous. We are all pleased it has not been passed straight away."