A COMPANY that wants to build a caravan site near a north Durham village is a facing protest from local community groups and conservationists.

Holmside Leisure wants to create a site for 22 static caravans near Ornsby Hill, Lanchester, with car parking and an amenities building.

But Derwentside District Council has received strong opposition to the planning application.

Lanchester Parish Council also agreed unanimously to protest against the site.

A spokesman for the parish council said: "The proposed development would create a community three times in excess of what already exists in the area. We are concerned about the problems related to the provision of necessary sewerage and fresh water supplies to the site."

Durham Bat Group said the area forms part of a designated wildlife corridor and believes the site would effectively create a residential area within it.

It also claims the area is a bat-feeding site for the large numbers of common pipistrelle that roost in buildings in the area.

The council has received 16 letters of objection from people who live near the site.

This is the second time the application has been submitted and is a revised version.

Last year, the firm wanted the go-ahead for 28 static carvans and 21 touring caravans, but permission was refused.

Derwentside council's environmental health department said the development would generate a lot of noise from the expected increase in traffic.

Durham County Council, the highways authority, said visibility on the A6076 was inadequate and a caravan site would be hazardous for road users.

At a meeting of the planning committee on Thursday, principal planning officer Fiona Clarke will recommend that the application is refused on the grounds of wildlife conservation, and to preserve road safety.

Ian Pick, of Acorus, the agent representing Holmside Leisure, said an independent report it commissioned concluded the woodland was of little ecological importance.

He said: "The planners' objection is that the speed of traffic at the locale is greater than the 30mph limit.

"It is considered unfair that the applicant is being penalised by the planning authority for third parties breaking the speed limit on the A6076.

"The support of members of the planning committee is respectfully requested.