A JUDICIAL review has been demanded into planning permission for a controversial sports area at Middleton Tyas, near Richmond.

Planning permission was granted earlier this year for the multi-use games area, with floodlighting, which the village school hopes to provide for use by pupils and the community.

The proposals split the village after some residents objected to the location of the development and plans to floodlight the twin pitches.

Now the residents' association has requested a judicial review and hopes to use the delay to persuade supporters of the scheme to switch to a neighbouring field, further away from homes.

Frank Jones, chairman of the residents' association, stressed members were not opposed to the creation of a games area.

However, elderly people in sheltered housing were concerned about light shining towards their homes, in spite of assurances by floodlighting experts that this would not happen. They also fear noise and disturbance from people using the pitches.

The association employed an architect to redesign the scheme layout, which could be accommodated in the next field, owned by Richmondshire District Council.

"All the existing facilities would remain - the football pitch, the children's play area and the multi-use games area - but we believe the alternative site and layout would overcome the very real concerns that some of our older and more vulnerable residents have," said Mr Jones.

"We believe the grant money will still be available, the district council has no objection in principle and the county council has no objection in principle."

Supporters of the games area said it would be open only until 9pm and car parking was offered in the school staff parking area to avoid unnecessary use of the council car park near the old people's bungalows.

John Ridley, headteacher, said the plans had been approved unanimously by the county council planning committee.

Mr Ridley said he had not seen any new plans but maintained that the school-owned land was the right location for the games area.

The changing rooms and showers would also be available to people using the village hall for activities such as yoga.

"It is significant that nine county councillors voted very much in favour of this and it would be a tragedy if we lost this wonderful opportunity, which would make us the envy of many other villages."