COUNCILLORS have again refused a planning application to turn a former caf on Cockerton Green, Darlington, into an amusement arcade.

The revised application by Count Cash, of Middlesbrough, was refused by six votes to two at Wednesday's meeting of the borough council planning committee, despite recommendation for approval by officers.

About 50 protesters turned up, which had to be moved to the main council chamber to accommodate them.

Fr Richard Wallace, of St Mary's Church in Cockerton, had co-ordinated a second petition against the plans containing 661 signatures. He told the meeting that, in the eyes of objectors, the application highlighted ambiguities between Government guidelines and the council's own town plan.

He added: "Surely the fact that a total of more than 1,000 people have signed a petition against it shows that people do feel it will affect the area."

He and Coun Eric Wilson, who also spoke against the application, pointed out that the revised plans sited the toilets at the rear of the building behind the gaming machine area.

This, they claimed, would exclude under 18s from using the caf as it would be illegal for them to enter the area under the Gaming Act of 1968, therefore making it a loss of amenity.

Coun Wilson said: "This is exactly the same application, bar one minor change, to the one that was rejected before."

An appeal against the original refusal in October has been lodged with the Secretary of State, and Alan Fulton, of Count Cash, warned that a second appeal would be made if the application was turned down again. He said: "Please take the advice of the planning department, they are the professionals in this matter. It will save Darlington Borough Council a substantial amount of money."

But Coun Sheila Brown said the committee should not let the fact that an appeal could cost the council money affect its decision.

Couns David Lyonette and Cliff Hutchinson also spoke out against the application.

Following the decision, the protesters burst into a round of loud applause.

After the meeting, Fr Wallace said: "I'm delighted for the residents of Cockerton. I think what we actually began to see was that the councillors realised the overall objective of the town plan is to make district centres like Cockerton viable shopping centres. They saw that an amusement arcade would downgrade the area even further and would be in conflict with the local plan.