FURIOUS residents condemned the chairman of Darlington planning committee for scuppering their campaign to prevent a new road into a woodland reserve.

They blamed Coun Frank Robson for using his casting vote to break a 5-5 deadlock in deciding an application to construct an access road and car park in a field near Barmpton Lane.

It will provide access to Skerningham Manor, which is being developed into a countryside gateway site.

The campaigners, who fear the road will make access easier for illegal motorcyclists, poachers and drug-takers, completely disrupted the meeting when it was clear they had lost.

There were cries of derision and "this stinks" as the dozens who turned up at the town hall on Tuesday expressed their disgust.

The committee received 41 letters of objection and an 181-signature petition which was presented at an equally stormy site visit the previous Friday.

Campaigners, joined by members of the Green party and Council for the Protection of Rural England, caused a confrontation when they brought the bus carrying councillors to a halt.

After the result, Mr Brian Pavey, spokesman, told the D&S Times: "It is the planning chairman who has granted this and he wasn't even at the site meeting."

During the debate, Mr Pavey said: "This weekend we observed motorbikes speeding in and out of the quarry - and on the public footpath fly tipping, shooting and drug abuse.

"These problems will multiply beyond all reasonable acceptance and are detrimental to everyone. The tranquillity, and the safety of young and old will be at risk if this application is accepted."

He questioned whether people would want to leave their vehicle in such a secluded car park and asked: "What about your personal safety, with people high on drugs in nearby bushes."

He said the obvious entrance to the site should be via Glebe Road which had easier access and was the way the site visit coach had travelled.

Coun Gerald Lee agreed with him and recommended rejecting the application and looking at the alternative road. "I can't see any reason why we can't use the second route instead of carving a four-metre road through a green arable field."

But Coun David Lyonette objected to comments, saying the new entrance would be a scar on the landscape.

"We are talking about a new forest, a new area of wildlife and access to a river and ponds. We are talking about better access to nature trails and everything that goes with it."

Coun John Williams said the site visit had made it clear to him that it was an excellent scheme.

"It will open up an attractive area of countryside for all the people of Darlington and beyond. We need to keep in mind the scale of the development. We are not talking about a factory or a cement works.

"This is a small car park for ten or 12 vehicles and the access road is about 750-metres long and four metres wide. This is not a big blot on the landscape. It is going to open up the countryside to Darlington people."

The chairman, who had just returned from holiday, said: "We are not here to discuss Glebe Road. That is something for the future.

"It must be apparent there are strong feelings from members of the public, who have expressed eloquently fears that there will be harm to the appearance and character of the area. You have to decide whether you feel these fears are justified."

l Mr Pavey said yesterday that complaints were being lodged with the council and the council ombudsman about Coun Robson's use of the casting vote.

"It was noted by many, many people that he voted twice to ensure that this project was passed, once in the initial count and then using his casting vote as the chairman.

"The objectors consider it warrants an investigation and will be seeking to have this undemocratic decision overturned."