A PROTEST group has passed a vote of no confidence against a parish council over controversial plans to build a link road between two Teesside villages.

Elton Village No-Link Road Action Group members said the elected councillors are not representing residents' views on proposals to join the village with nearby Long Newton.

They oppose the plan because of safety concerns, and said they feared the parish council would welcome the development at next week's public inquiry.

The group's spokesman, Steve Gardner, said: "If they cannot represent the views of the majority of the village, then they should stand down,"

"We don't want them to express views on our behalf because we don't think they are representative of how people feel."

About 20 people opposing the link road voted at a recent meeting, which was advertised with hand-delivered leaflets.

All but one agreed they had no faith in the parish council.

The proposed road has divided the community of Elton, with some concerned that cars will speed through the quiet village, while others feel the road is essential to safeguard local services.

It is part of plans to upgrade the A66 to reduce the number of accidents on Teesside roads.

Elton Parish Council is also split on the matter and councillors said there is no unified view or official stance, only the opinions of individuals.

Council chairman Malcolm Simpson said he supported the link road to save the village services, provided that safety concerns are addressed.

"I don't think they are being fair to the parish council at all," said Councillor Simpson.

"It is a bit bad of them to say they have got no confidence in us when they never come to the meetings.

"The village is a small proportion of the parish itself and not everyone supports the anti link road campaign."

Parish council vice-chairman Sue Gray said she was furious when she saw the leaflets regarding the vote.

She said: "I was blazing because the link road decision has got nothing to with the council.

"If these people feel so strongly, maybe they should have stood for election in May."