HUTTON Rudby councillors have rejected anonymous suggestions that they ignored residents' opinions about a street lighting scheme.

After a series of meetings, modern-style lights were erected around the village this spring. The lights are now positioned around the village green and bank, Enterpen and Rudby.

They have hockey stick-shaped posts and low-polluting lamps. The design was preferred to other styles, including one based on Victorian gas lanterns.

Hambleton Council was behind the scheme. It initially sent leaflets to residents in the particular areas, and a lighting officer then visited the parish council.

At that same meeting, resident Mike Hill spoke against the Victorian design and for modern alternatives. He said Hutton Rudby never had gas until recently and thought Victorian lanterns would clash with the village's mixed architecture.

Speaking at the recent parish council meeting, chairman Coun Judith Follows said Coun Simon Whitfield had received one or two anonymous complaints.

"The resident thought the parish council acted high-handedly, by changing the lamp designs. When somebody says the council is not taking residents' views into consideration, it needs to be answered.

"Those changes were made following recommendations in our village design statement. That document was drawn up by us through extensive consultation."

Coun Peter Markey added: "That document went to every house in Hutton Rudby. The gas lamp style had a cross against it, while the hockey-stick style had a tick next to it.

"There was extensive parish consultations about these lamps and extensive newspaper reports in the D&S Times. How much consultation do we have to do?"

Coun Follows emphasised: "Through the parish and Hambleton Council, there was sufficient consultation. I find this complaint disappointing. Parish councillors put in a lot of time on a voluntary capacity for the village. We speak to people and ask about things. To be accused of acting as a small group is not correct."