RESIDENTS of a Teesdale village are continuing their fight against a proposed housing development.

Objections are being lodged by residents of Middleton-in-Teesdale against resubmitted plans for 27 houses and a car and coach park in Bridge Street.

A similar scheme for 28 houses was withdrawn by the applicants Harlequin Developments earlier this year.

Residents organised a 500-name petition against the first application and Bridge Street resident Gillian Gallagher said people intended to fight the latest plans as well.

Mrs Gallagher said the site would be over-developed and instead of being a solution to the village's parking problems, the car park would end up being used by residents of the new development and residents of Bridge Street.

She said: "It's not going to achieve anything. It could possibly move vehicles off Bridge Street, which is congested, but that is all it will do.

"It is a very short-sighted view that these houses are going to be some sort of dream ticket for the village."

Mrs Gallagher said she is encouraging people to object independently to the application and write to Teesdale District Council.

The developer has carried out an ecological survey after concerns that the proposal could affect bats, which feed near the site. The survey is being examined by English Nature.

Any objections must be at the council offices by Wednesday, August 10.