WORRIED residents have acted to block a planning application that could lead to the loss of an area of public land in Guisborough.

The owner of Dovedale, a house in Belmangate, has applied for outline planning permission to build a dwelling in the back garden of the property.

Dovedale backs on to open space between Belmangate and Whaddon Chase. The land has mature trees and a well-established hedge running along it.

Residents have no objection to the new house, but they are deeply concerned that a piece of the public land could be used to create access and have drawn up a petition against the plan.

Last month's meeting of Guisborough Town Council plans committee attracted 27 members of the public, and three were allowed to speak against the proposed development.

At last week's town council meeting, members agreed to object to the scheme.

In a letter to Redcar and Cleveland Council, the town council said: "We have constantly opposed the selling of public open space for development purposes.

"This proposal requires the purchase of public open space for access to the development and the town council opposes the selling of public amenity open space to facilitate this development."

The town council also felt the application would set a precedent and could lead to applications relating to at least three other properties.

This would mean the total loss of the public open space and the destruction of the trees and hedge.

The letter of objection added: "Should the applicant be able to service the proposed development from Belmangate, then there would be no objections."

A spokesman for Redcar and Cleveland Council planning department said the application was likely to go before the planning committee in October or November.