A DROWNING tragedy involving two little girls has fuelled opposition to a scheme for three fishing ponds in a Cleveland village.

Anxious mums fear a similar accident if the plans go ahead in Kirby, near Stokesley.

But the man behind the project says the scheme will not pose a threat. "I have grandchildren of my own," said Mr John Seymour. "I would not consider anything which might put them at risk."

News that two girls had died in a Scunthorpe lake raised fresh fears among residents who were already gearing up to fight the scheme again.

A 100-name petition was organised when the application was first considered and rejected by Hambleton council.

Mr Seymour has now submitted a revised scheme and this too will face stiff opposition.

Kirby pensioner Mrs Joyce Burns has a smallholding adjoining the site and is worried about the safety of the ponds. She has seven grandchildren and there are also youngsters living on a neighbouring farm.

There is a public right of way near the ponds and villagers say there are no safety measures built into the plan.

"Now we hear two children have drowned in a lake," said Mrs Burns. "This is a tragedy waiting to happen as water is a great attraction for children. The ponds could be very dangerous."

Consultants brought in by the villagers recommended a buffer zone between the ponds and the boundaries, but protesters say this has not been done.

"The Scunthorpe tragedy highlights the risks," said Mrs Burns. "I am really worried. The whole community wants this thrown out."

The council rejected Mr Seymour's scheme because it was contrary to parts of the local plan.

Hambleton planning officer Helen Laws confirmed that Mr Seymour had re-submitted an application for three fishing ponds. Positioning of the ponds and a car park had been altered.

Mr Seymour said: "The ponds are designed to have shallow sloping sides so that if someone fell in they could scramble out. There will be fences when the site is finished and landscaping with trees.

"The ponds are overlooked by the farmhouse and my family can see everything that happens.

"People fear enormous use of the ponds and I find that incredible. We have provided six parking places for each pond on a day-ticket basis. I can't understand why people think there would be cars whizzing in and out. Fishing is a quiet pastime.

"We have tried to do everything properly. We have moved the ponds further away from the village and we are being as reasonable as we can be.

Mr Seymour said he had never expected such strong resistance. "We thought we would be adding something to the area with a sensitive development," he said.

Mrs Burns insisted the ponds would have steep sides, making them more dangerous if someone fell into the water.

Mother-of-three Mrs Dawn Abrook of Dromonby Farmhouse said the ponds would be off a one-car track going to her property.

"It is the only access and my children would have to go past the water every day. I won't be able to let them out of my sight. It will be a nightmare worrying about them."

The application is likely to be considered in October