VILLAGERS have vowed to fight a fresh attempt to site three-storey town houses next to their homes.

Barratt York wants to build more than 100 houses and flats on land in Romanby, Northallerton. The company originally submitted plans for the development in April.

It comprises 64 houses and 45 flats on the site of the former North Yorkshire County Council central repair depot. The land runs between Boroughbridge Road and Romanby Road next to the rail track.

People in Manor Green, Richmond Rise and Grange Close said the development was out of character with the area and would lead to the loss of their privacy. Hambleton District Council planners agreed and Barratt was ordered to go back to the drawing board.

A revised application is set to go before the district council on Thursday next week but plans still contain three-storey developments.

Romanby parish council held a public meeting in the primary school to urge residents to protest.

Coun Harold Bartram, of Manor Green, who has lived in Romanby for 46 years, said: "The whole plan wants throwing back to Barratt's. They have not taken the slightest bit of notice as to what we have objected to.

"We don't object to this site being developed, but it must be done in sympathy with the village."

He also criticised the siting of a large play area.

"Residents of Manor Green have had footballs in their front gardens for years. Now they are going to get footballs in their back gardens from a play area nearly as big as Manor Green itself."

He warned the creation of another estate could cause traffic chaos and urged people to write letters of objection to the district council.

Coun Linda Hudson said the parish council would again be strongly objecting.

Hambleton's head of development control Maurice Cann confirmed the council would be debating the application next week. "We have had revised plans which may be enough to move this forward to where we can make a decision," he said.