COUNCILLORS are outraged at a decision to allow an access route off a busy road to a proposed leisure development in Newton Aycliffe.

The Planning Inspectorate overturned a decision by Sedgefield Borough Council to refuse planning permission for the outdoor centre at Woodham Bridge.

It means that the scheme for a riding school, golf driving range, fitness trail, putting green and pony trek trail can now go ahead.

But members of Sedgefield Borough Council's development control committee feel that allowing access off the A167 will lead to more accidents.

Their strength of feeling is so great that they have decided to make a protest to the Planning Inspectorate.

Speaking at a meeting yesterday, Councillor Bob Fleming said: "The inspectors should accept responsibility for the accidents that will inevitably happen on that stretch of the A167."

He was supported in his criticism by Councillor Bill Blenkinsopp and Councillor Don Fraser, who said they had reservations and misgivings about the decision.

Council planning officer Steve Barker said that an appeal to the High Court would be unlikely to succeed.

But he said: "I think this is one case that might usefully be referred to the quality assurance panel, so we can express our concerns.

"At least it would put a marker down for future cases. I don't think it would get the decision reversed, but it might help in the future."

In his report, planning inspector Peter Walker said that accident levels on the road were not unusually high and that the proposed access met all necessary design standards.

He said that the status of the road had changed since a previous access to the former equestrian centre was refused planning permission.

Speaking after the meeting, Coun Fleming said: "Access all along the A167 has not been allowed because it is a trunk road.

"Now it is going to be de-trunked, but that is just a piece of paper and the amount of traffic is the same. Over the years there have been numerous accidents on that stretch of road, some of them fatal.

"It seems strange that inspectors in the past have agreed with us. I find it very difficult to understand how access can be given on that stretch - it is an accident waiting to happen.