CAMPAIGNERS who fought desperately to prevent a waste transfer station being opened near their homes have withdrawn their High Court challenge at the 11th hour.

Members of Stainton Grove Action Group, together with residents of the estate near Barnard Castle, have managed to hold up the station's operation for nearly two years, despite the building being completed earlier this year.

When up and running, it will allow bin lorries to empty their loads, which will then be bulked up and taken away to landfill sites.

In a statement issued this week the group said it had reluctantly withdrawn from the appeal, due to be heard in the High Court next week, on the advice of lawyers.

"Because we are still working with them on other matters appertaining to the waste transfer station, we are not free to divulge why we have agreed to their advice at such a late stage," said co-ordinator Ruth Renton.

However, they are adamant that their decision is not seen as a victory for the county council, saying they had since been advised that their actions would be better directed at bringing nuisance proceedings "in the likely event that the waste transfer station will cause nuisance to residents of Stainton Grove."

"We are therefore keeping our powder dry for proceedings on the grounds of odour and noise," said action group chairman Tony Cooke. "Residents will be extremely vigilant about the operation of the station and take all action necessary to ensure that it does not cause a nuisance."

Mr Cooke said he was very disappointed that Durham County Council, which granted planning permission for the station to its waste management company Premier Waste, and the Environment Agency had failed to consider residents when approving the station, and had not behaved honestly throughout the process.

"You would not get this building near expensive homes in the area," he said. "They are trying to dump their problem on people they think will not have the resources to protect their environment. They could not be more wrong."

However, the county council feels the withdrawing of the challenge will save residents thousands of pounds.

"This is an important victory in our efforts to save money for Teesdale council tax payers," said Coun Brian Myers, the authority's cabinet member for waste management. "At present, individual lorries have to travel long distances to landfill sites with their loads, which costs taxpayers thousands of pounds.

"If Stainton Grove Action Group had been successful, then this cost would have continued to be a tax burden into the future," he added.

But Mrs Renton remained unbowed. "I just want to thank everyone for their efforts," she said. "There's no finer cause than standing up for what you believe is right."

A spokesman for Durham County council said the station is expected to be fully operational by mid-November.