AN ANGRY pensioner told Darlington councillors they had condemned the people of Mowden to a slow death following their support for a new housing estate.

A detailed planning application by Yuill Homes to build 67 detached homes - some three-storey - at Mowden Park rugby club was heard by the council's planning committee on Wednesday.

The club plans to move to the new West Park development at Faverdale.

More than 120 letters of objection were received by the council and local objectors packed the meeting to hear the committee come down in favour of the scheme.

The vote was 5-2 in favour of sending the application to the Secretary of State for determination, telling him the council was minded to grant permission subject to a number of conditions.

One disgusted Mowden resident stood up and said: "You have condemned the people of Mowden to a slow death. It is a very one-sided situation that the council can speak and we have no say at all."

Campaigners were backed by Couns Bill Stenson and Ron Lewis and the Council for the Protection of Rural England also objected.

In his address, Coun Stenson warned members that approval could lead to another "Brinkburn Drive disaster" with claims for compensation being made.

He said: "We do not want to see another case of compensation because of the neglect of planning."

Recently, the ombudsman ordered the council to pay compensation to residents in Brinkburn Drive after new homes at Baydale Croft were built towering over neighbouring houses.

Coun Lewis said the rugby club development was of no benefit to the people of Mowden.

"It will put enormous pressure on already over-subscribed schools in the ward and the loss of cherished open space is in no way compensated by the offer of artificial landscaping."

Mrs Alwyn Weston, of the Mowden Park pressure group, said the council had sufficient plans to meet new housing needs until 2006.

However, council leader. Coun John Williams, felt there were no reasons to refuse the application as it complied with every planning rule.

He said: "This proposal offers the opportunity to improve the Baydale Beck area. Sport England has no objections and neither has Durham wildlife trust.

"This development is overall in the long-term interests of local residents."

Proposals also include the creation of a footpath from Staindrop Road to Broken Scar water treatment works, and the refurbishment and maintenance of Bushel Hill Park and the Ettersgill Drive play area