A CARAVAN manufacturing firm is pressing ahead with controversial plans to send heavy goods vehicles through an idyllic County Durham village.

Although bosses at Elddis Caravans have admitted there is an alternative route, they say they cannot afford to resurface another road that would take heavy traffic away from the hamlet of Knitsley, near Consett.

Residents are fighting plans for a caravan storage compound that will see 70 heavy lorries a week trundle past their homes.

Villagers, who paid extra for their homes' picturesque location, have bombarded Derwentside District Council with letters of objection to the plans.

Owners of the Elddis caravan park, based on the Delve Lane Industrial Estate, near Consett, want to build the 50,000 square metre compound and separate car park for employees - keeping the two apart to deter employees from taking equipment from the fully-fitted touring caravans.

The company wants to adapt an existing road off Butsfield Lane for access to a new car park, but direct HGVs through the village up Hownsgill Drive.

Project manager Bill Donaldson said they could direct lorries up the access road, but it would cost too much to convert it for heavy lorries.

He said: "We want to use the access road to take employees to the new car park.

"We could use it for HGVs, but at a cost.

"Also, under no circumstances do we want to provide a temptation to employees.

"In the past we've had to sack employees for stealing from the caravans so we want to keep them separate from the car park.

"All things considered, the only way out for these lorries carrying caravans is sadly, through the village."

Residents are worried about traffic levels and a loss of privacy caused by 32 floodlights and CCTV cameras proposed for the site.

Simon Saunders, spokesman for the Knitsley Residents' Association, said: "Most of us chose Knitsley to live because of its attractive, and quiet, location, but with this development and others, several people are talking about selling up."

Members of the council's development control committee have recommended the plans for approval, but will not make a decision until they've made a site visit on September 18