CONTROVERSIAL plans for a waste material recycling centre have been given approval despite objections from two councils.

Yesterday, members of Durham County Council's planning department backed the new project which will be built on Hackworth Industrial Estate, in Shildon.

John Suckling, head of planning, told councillors that the centre would be a good asset.

He said: "The present proposal would make a useful contribution to the council's wider aim of dealing with waste generated in the county responsibly, not least by encouraging recycling and re-use of waste materials."

But Shildon Town Council and New Shildon Residents' Association have objected to the plans saying that it was too close to homes and could hit further housing investment in the town.

Councillor Gareth Howe said that he and other residents in Shildon would be looking to see whether they could appeal against the decision.

He said: "Durham County Council is just not listening to what the local people want.

"There are one hundred houses being built near that site. Who wants to buy a house that will overlook what is in my opinion a scrapyard."

Sedgefield Borough Council has also voiced its objections to the plans saying it is not against recycling in principle, but questioned the suitability of the location.

Dorothy Clayton, managing director of R&H Tomlinson, in West Auckland, which has made the application, said she does not blame the town's residents for being upset.

The company presently runs a scrap metal business in West Auckland and said that the new recycling centre would be nothing like this.

She said: "People are expecting a scrapyard, but we are opening a recycling centre not a scrap- yard. If I thought that something like this was moving next to me I would not want it either, but this is the future and something that Shildon will be proud of once they know what it is.

"This is going to be the first of its kind in the country. We are talking 95 per cent recycling.

"We will be under strict guidance from the Environment Agency, so we will have to do everything right."