VILLAGERS have stepped up their battle to halt controversial plans to build a Gypsy site close to their homes.

Earlier this month, residents of Heighington, near Darlington, set up a steering group to persue the objections to plans to convert two fields on nearby Walworth Road to accommodate travellers and their families.

The Heighington and District Support Group has now used money pooled by villagers to pay for the services of a chartered town planner.

A spokesman for the group, Michael McGarry, addressed last night’s Heighington Parish Council meeting (Thursday March 21).

He said: “A significant amount of money has been raised by residents and we have engaged the services of a chartered town planner in order to coordinate and bring together our arguments against this application.”

He also appealed for the support of the Parish Council and asked that a member of the council speak at an upcoming planning meeting against the application and in support of the hundreds of objections already raised in response to the plans.

Parish councillor Gary Blenkinsopp volunteered to attend the planning meeting on Wednesday April 10.

In response to a proposal raised by absent ward councillor Gerald Lee, the parish council also voted to send a letter of appreciation to the steering committee, thanking them for their hard work tackling the contentious application.