CONTROVERSIAL plans to turn a former caf on Cockerton Green, Darlington, into an amusement arcade have been approved following an appeal to the Secretary of State for the Environment..

The application by Count Cash Amusements, of Middlesbrough, was turned down by Darlington Council planning committee for a second time in January.

But the decision to allow the application based on an appeal against the first refusal was confirmed yesterday.

The plans caused public outcry and united the three Cockerton churches and four schools in the area against the proposal,

Petitions co-ordinated by Fr Richard Wallace, of St Mary's Church, resulted in more than 1,000 signatures objecting to the arcade.

The D&S Times broke the news to Fr Wallace yesterday.

He said: "Obviously we are very disappointed because the community does not want this facility and it goes against the rules that have been put up by the council in the local plan.

He added: "The appalling thing is that once it is classed as an A3 use, the shop front will be lost forever to Cockerton."

Fr Wallace said he was unable to comment further until he had learned more about the secretary of state's decision.

Nobody from Count Cash Amusements was available for comment.