CONTROVERSIAL plans to re-route a national cycleway through the heart of a residential estate have been deferred.

Charity Sustrans wants to move a stretch of the Coast to Coast (C2C) route in Leadgate, near Consett, in order to sell land around the existing route for housing.

The plans have met with strong opposition from residents in Ambleside Mews and the Ponthead estate and objections have been raised by both the police and Durham County Council's highways officers.

Planners at Derwentside District Council recommended the scheme for approval, but at a meeting in Consett civic centre, the authority's development control committee went against the advice and ignored a plea from council leader Alex Watson to vote in favour of the development.

The application has been deferred so that the committee can make a site visit, on May 5, before a final decision.

Residents' spokesman Keith Temperley, who lives in Ambleside Mews and spoke against the development at the meeting, said: "I am very relieved.

"The residents will be delighted that the councillors are coming for a site visit, to see the situation for themselves."

The plans involve Broseley Homes building 36 houses at Station Yard, St Ives Road, Leadgate, at the top of an embankment.

Householders nearby claim the height of the new estate could cause them flooding problems and would invade their privacy.

They are also concerned about road safety, if a temporary route through their estate is approved while the building work is carried out.

About 12,000 cyclists a year use the C2C route.

The district council recently installed a closed circuit security camera at one end of its Leadgate link, to combat anti-social behaviour and youth nuisance.

Residents said that moving the route will render the camera practically useless.