AN investigation has been launched into a controversial decision by Durham County Council to back plans for traffic lights on a busy road at the centre of a proposed housing development.

The Local Government Ombudsman confirmed yesterday that a complaint had been received about the scheme for the A690 Durham to Sunderland road at Rainton Gate, West Rainton.

At a meeting in June members of the county council's highways committee backed a plan to install lights at the junction, which will connect to a proposed executive housing estate.

Developers Bryant Homes and Wimpey Homes have offered to install the lights, make improvements to the road and pay £500,000 towards a planned rail interchange at Carrville.

It is believed the total amount of "planning gain" on the offer is close to £1m.

But protestors believe traffic lights would be dangerous and claim the county council agreed to the proposals due to the incentives offered by the builders.

Durham City Council is due to decide on plans for the 193 homes later this year.

The formal complaint was lodged by West Rainton Parish Housing Action Group, which is fighting to stop the development.

Planning inspectors who approved a smaller housing development on the site in 1991 stated it could only go ahead with a graded junction - with a flyover - in place.

An action group spokesman said: "Durham County Council has accepted an inferior traffic scheme in the face of significant opposition from our village, and despite a Government inspector's decision nine years ago that the only safe way to control traffic was via a grade separated junction or underpass.

"We consider that this decision has been completely influenced by the offer of £1m in planning gain."

A Local Government Ombudsman official said the complaint was within the watchdog's jurisdiction and it was likely investigators would make contact with campaigners and the county council.

She said any inquiry could last three to 12 months, but declined to comment further on the matter.

A spokesman for Durham County Council said the authority had not been notified of the complaint and was waiting for confirmation from the Ombudsman.