OPEN space on a housing estate is to be sold off to homeowners to provide larger gardens, despite town council opposition.

Teesdale District Council originally agreed to sell the land, between 59 and 60 Bartlemere in Barnard Castle, in 1996, subject to planning approval.

At the latest meeting of the authority's planning south committee, Councillor John Hinchcliffe said it was good practice to let the piece of land go so it did not have to be maintained by the authority.

But Councillor Margaret Hamilton disagreed, saying that such pockets of land should be left open.

Coun Hamilton is a member of the town council, which also recommended refusal, saying: "Public open space should be an essential part of any estate and therefore this particular area of land should be retained as open space."

But planning officer Trevor Watson told members that the site did not have the appearance of public open space and there was no evidence it had been used as a recreation area.

The committee acknowledged the town council's comments, but said it was inappropriate to resist the change of use.

It also said there was an extensive area of open space and recreational facilities on the western side of Bartlemere.

Members agreed to allow the conditional change to garden land for Mr and Mrs D Minikin and V Webster by eight votes to one