A COUPLE are to appeal against a planning decision that may jeapordise their plan to set up a fish farm in a remote corner of County Durham.

John and Joan Linney, from Shotley Bridge, near Consett, have spent several years and hundreds of thousands of pounds trying to set up their enterprise in countryside surrounding Derwent Reservoir, near Edmundbyers.

They have planning permission for four growing ponds and have spent £235,000 on access roads, an agricultural shed and water and electricity connections.

But councillors in Wear Valley have twice refused them permission to build a temporary home on the site, which is in the North Pennines Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

The Northumberland Wildlife Trust is against the development because of the presence of breeding otters in the area and claims that it might not meet the criteria for a Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs licence.

Edmundbyers residents have also objected, saying the plan would be unsightly and detrimental to the area.

Mr and Mrs Linney are waiting for a public inquiry to hear their appeal against a previous refusal.

Their agent, Ian Self, of law firm Ward Haddaway, cited a planning inspector's opinion on another fish farm proposal at Witton-le-Wear Lido, which said that temporary accommodation could be justified because of the need to attend to stock and deal with round-the-clock emergencies.

The council's development control committee, however, went against a recommendation from regeneration director Bob Hope that the Linney's application should be granted.

Councillor Richard Mews said the impact on the area should be a prime consideration. He said: "This is a beautiful site and would be spoiled. It would set a dangerous precedent for developments in the Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty."

Mr Self said: "Mr and Mrs Linney are determined to appeal. They have invested too much time, money and resources in this venture to let it go now.

"Mr Linney grew up on a fish farm and has expertise in that line."

Edmundbyers resident Roy Tyerman said: "We have thought all along that this was an unnecessary development. People in the village will be pleased at the committee's decision."