PLANS to open a business near a notorious accident blackspot should be considered by the full planning committee, villagers have said.

Hambleton District Council has received an application to convert the disused Black Swan pub by the side of the A19 near Hutton Rudby into a home and guesthouse.

John and Christine Beckwith, from Yarm, are hoping to live in the main house and turn the chalets at the back into four guest rooms.

At present, the application is due to be considered under delegated powers by planning officers, rather than by the full planning committee.

The gap in the central reservation at the Black Swan was closed last year after a spate of serious accidents at the crossing.

Local people are now campaigning for the crossing to be re-opened, or a bridge built over the A19.

Derek Lawton, chairman of Rountons Parish Council, said any potential changes around the crossing should be considered in the public eye.

He said: "We have been fighting for years to get a bridge over the road, and more recently to get the crossing re-opened. With the situation being as sensitive as it is, any discussions should have an open audience.

"The feeling may be that a guest house would create more traffic, which would worsen the situation at the crossing and affect plans for the road. We just want all these things considered in a public arena."

The application comes at the same time as a feasibility study by the Highways Agency concluded that a bridge to the north side of the disused pub was the best option for the road.

The parish council has formally objected to the plans.

A spokeswoman for Hambleton District Council said: "Applications are only usually discussed by the committee if they are possibly contentious.

"We have had one objection, but there are still things to be considered and we are nowhere near even deciding on a recommendation.

"Depending on how things progress it could go to committee if necessary."

The Beckwiths are in the process of buying the property.

Mrs Beckwith said: "I think it would actually be quite good to get a bridge."