VILLAGERS are preparing to fight a bid by developers to renew permission for a controversial ten-year-old housing plan.

The scheme to build 229 homes on fields near Station Road and Rainton Gate, at West Rainton, won outline approval at appeal in 1991.

But the development was never built as a condition of the permission was that a grade separated junction be built on the busy A690 nearby - which was considered too expensive by the developers.

Wimpey Homes and Bryant Homes recently came up with a revised scheme for 193 homes and a traffic light junction.

Durham City Council refused planning permission, but the firms have appealed and hope to win approval following a public inquiry.

In the meantime, they are seeking to renew the approval that exists for the original scheme.

Villagers fear either development will lead to traffic problems, ruin the character of their community and pave the way for even more development.

Eric Coates, chairman of the West Rainton Housing Action Group, said: "I haven't seen the application, but it is of concern.

"What we are trying to do is to maintain our lifestyle and they are trying to increase the lifestyle of their shareholders so there is a clash.''

Councillor Ian Fawcett, the village's member on Durham City Council, said: "It would appear they are trying to keep the old application going at the same time as having the newer one on the go.

"They are trying to have two bites at the cherry. They could have gone ahead with the original one, but they did not. It was too expensive with the traffic measures that were imposed.

"They have had plenty of time and I think it is high time it was thrown out. We have a Labour government that has introduced new planning rules and prefers development on brownfield sites.

"The village is big enough. We intend to fight it all the way."

Wimpey Homes' sales and marketing director Kevin Thubron could not be contacted for comment.

He has previously said that because the original scheme's approval was still "live" the refusal of the second scheme was unjustified.

He is confident that the firms will win their appeal.