Fury as holiday site is ignored by guide

Paul Birbeck's Greenhead Country House Hotel and caravan site has been included in Wear Valley District Council booklet since it was introduced five years ago.

But Mr Birbeck has now been told the site does not meet criteria set out by funders.

The former business advisor, whose caravan park has won several awards since it opened 19 years ago, said inspections by the AA, RAC and the Caravan Club should be enough to show the quality of his service.

But the council has been told it can only list businesses that have been inspected in a scheme run by the UK's tourist boards and supported by regeneration agency One NorthEast and the County Durham Tourism Partnership.

The agency funds the production of 12,000 copies of the guide each year.

Mr Birbeck said: "I have been told that if the council doesn't comply, then it won't get the money for the guide.

"Why should I have to pay £200 to be inspected again?"

Louise Davis, head of tourism at One NorthEast, which spends £5.5m a year promoting the region, said: "Participation in a nationally recognised quality assurance scheme is required if businesses want to benefit from public sector marking support.

"This is accepted practice throughout the UK and ensures visitors to the North-East enjoy a consistent level of quality when they come to the region.

"The requirement for businesses to be quality assured only affects marketing channels subsidised by public sector funding.

"It doesn't affect any other marketing activity a business chooses." A council spokesperson said: "This year, we only have external funding to produce the visitor guide for those businesses which have been accredited under the national scheme, a recognised way of guaranteeing standards and protecting visitors.

"While in previous years, all entries to the visitor guide have been accepted, the decision this year follows the practice of the County Durham Tourism Partnership and One NorthEast."