PROTESTORS opposed to a town centre bail hostel have welcomed an announcement that the proposals will go to a public inquiry.

The Planning Inspectorate, which investigates planning appeals, said the inquiry into the Chester-le-Street 25-bed hostel could start as early as July.

When the Probation Service appealed last month against Chester-le-Street District Council's refusal of planning permission, protestors had feared that the outcome would be determined by written representations - with no public inquiry.

That would have given concerned residents, of which there are thought to be at least 10,000, no say.

A public inquiry allows their views to be taken into consideration.

County Durham Probation Service yesterday welcomed the decision to go to public inquiry, despite having its written appeal knocked back.

Council leader Councillor Malcolm Pratt has agreed to speak to protestors at a public meeting tonight to discuss the next move.

Jim Greer, a member of the protest committee, said: "We welcome the decision to go to public inquiry.

"The Probation Service has refused to discuss the issue in public, and tried to deal with it behind closed doors.

"This announcement now brings everything out in the open."

Coun Pratt said the authority was delighted that a full inquiry had been called.

A spokeswoman for County Durham Probation Service, which claims that a bail hostel in Chester-le-Street is vital to ease pressures on others in Teesside and Newcastle, said a public inquiry should explode some of the myths surrounding the issue.

She said: "We welcome a full inquiry simply because it's a chance to put all the facts about hostels, without any distortion, in front of an independent assessor, who can make an objective decision, a decision based in facts rather than rumour."

Coun Pratt and the protest committee will be at the Greenbank Club, in Chester-le-Street, tonight. The meeting starts at 7.30pm.