CAMPAIGNERS have scored a second victory in their battle to prevent a developer from replacing two large homes in Eaglescliffe with flats for the elderly.

An application by McCarthy and Stone to demolish Glenrea and The Bungalow, in The Avenue, and build 41 sheltered flats with 20 car parking spaces was turned down by Stockton Borough Council yesterday.

A proposal for 42 flats was refused in October, and an appeal is due to be heard in September.

McCarthy and Stone submitted a revised application for one less flat, and once again planning officers recommended approval of the scheme.

A spokeswoman for the developer said that the revised plans had addressed the problems raised previously by objectors and planning committee members.

But councillors were unanimous in their decision to stick to their original reasons for refusal.

They believed the scheme was too large, had insufficient parking and would lead to traffic problems at the busy junction with Yarm Road.

Committee member Councillor Maureen Rigg, who also represents Eaglescliffe, said: "The revised scheme is an improvement, but not a huge one. I accept we are short of such housing in Eaglescliffe, but I still think this is the wrong site for it."

After the meeting, Vicki Thompson, a member of the Eaglescliffe Preservation Action Group, said she was delighted.

"We are absolutely ecstatic," she said. "We knew that the amended plan wasn't significantly different. It was still the wrong thing in the wrong place.

"The scale and density was still too high, and out of character with Eaglescliffe and the neighbouring conservation area."