AN environmental transport charity has been accused of betraying its principles for considering the sale of a former railway bridge on the Coast-to-Coast cycle route to a housing developer.

Sustrans, which works on projects to encourage people to walk and cycle more to reduce traffic, has provoked anger for raising no objections in principle to the diversion of the route in Leadgate, County Durham.

Laws Developments has won permission to demolish the former Cricketers pub and put up nine homes, west of Front Street, subject to the approval of a full meeting of Derwentside District Council.

As part of the plans, a new road crossing would be created for the route.

Sustrans, which has yet to make a final decision, has justified the plans saying they will improve the route.

But Transport 2000 Northumbria secretary, Donald Kent said: "This is an absolute outrage and seriously throws into question Sustrans' stewardship of the C2C route.

"This is the eighth time the line has been breached in under two miles since the railway was closed and converted to a cycle path.

"Sustrans and the county council are signed up to local Agenda 21 which commits signatories to promote cycling."

He said: "These actions are entirely against that, and they are not following their own policies.

"It is clear that the western portion of the Consett Sunderland path is becoming fragmented in between other developments and road."

He said that being forced on to the road discouraged children and adults from using the path.

Removing the bridge would further discourage people.

Sustrans spokesman David Gray denied the charity was flouting its principles.

He said that until Sustrans was satisfied with details of the road crossing, it would not be selling the land.

He said: "It will be an improvement to the cycle route and it will be a safe protected road crossing, which will make the route more accessible to public."

He said the bridge was regarded as ugly and was a "legal liability", because it had to be permanently maintained by Sustrans.

He said: "This will be the opportunity to reduce our liability at no cost to ourselves and achieve an improvement."

Derwentside councillors were recommended to grant conditional approval by officers at a meeting yesterday.