RESIDENTS have attacked plans to create an off-road driving and shooting centre close to their homes.

As reported in last week's D&S Times, Bill Bates has applied for planning permission to convert eight acres of land at his home, Handley Cross, on the A1044 at Leven Bank, near Yarm, into a corporate leisure business.

More than 20 letters objecting to the application have now been sent to Stockton Borough Council.

Mr Bates has collected a number of army surplus and prototype military vehicles over the last seven years and intends to use them for corporate team- building events.

His collection includes armoured personnel carriers, a missile launcher, a tank and a bulldozer, and he has set up a web site - www.bigboysandtheirtoys.co.uk - to advertise the activities that will be available.

But his neighbours are up in arms at the prospect of extra traffic and noise on their doorsteps, plus the potential damage to wildlife.

Peter and Lin Roy live just a few feet from Mr Bates' property and share a drive with Handley Cross.

Mr Roy said: "Mr Bates has shown no regard for the six neighbours, whose lives will become a living hell if this application is successful.

"Our mistake has been to allow Mr Bates to continue his hobby unhindered.

"As good neighbours we have tolerated the noise and fumes from these vehicles, but he has not seen fit to consult us over the extension of his hobby into a business."

"If he wants to start up this sort of business he should move to a farm, away from a residential area."

The site is towards the top of Leven Bank on a blind bend, and residents, as well as members of Yarm Town Council, fear an increase in accidents if the plans are given the go-ahead.

Another neighbour, Richard Bain, who lives 165 yards from Mr Bates' property, said: "The A1044 is statistically five times more dangerous than the national average, based on recorded accidents.

"We have had one fatality on the road in the last few years and the telegraph pole at the entrance to Mr Bates' property has been demolished several times.

"The extra traffic generated by this business would make matters even worse. It is a totally inappropriate site for such a proposition."

Mr Bain's wife, Judy, said people were also concerned about the possible effect on wildlife in the area, which is classed as a site of nature conservation importance.

She said: "We have deer, badgers, foxes, pheasant and bats, including a particular protected species of bat, in the valley."

She added: "It's only when you look at Mr Bates' web site that you realise what sort of things he has planned.

"He is certainly not going to drive these vehicles around sedately. They are going to be thrashed by amateurs."

Mrs Roy said: "The web site uses phrases like "Go for a ride in one of these monsters" and "Impress your neighbours".

"Well, these neighbours are distinctly unimpressed."