A FARMER has blamed "ignorance and scaremongering" as the reason why his agricultural training centre has been refused planning permission.

Darlington Borough Council unanimously rejected the application from John Littlefair for the training centre at Beacon Hill, Sadberge, near Darlington.

The centre planned to teach up to 45 under-achieving youngsters a range of vocational subjects, such as farming, construction, joinery and other practical courses.

However, 110 residents wrote to the council objecting to the plan.

Their chief objections were that the centre, which would comprise a livestock and agricultural storage buildings, a stock person's dwelling, a two-storey education centre, a stable building with riding school and a duck pond, was being built on agricultural land.

Planning officers had recommended the centre should be refused permission, as there was no evidence alternative sites had been considered and the development would detract from the surrounding countryside.

David Lee, a resident of Beacon Hill, said he was concerned about transport to and from the site as, including staff, there could be 69 people using the centre.

He said: "When these 14 to 19-years-olds are off the site, who would be responsible for their control?"

However, Mr Littlefair said the youngsters would be there of their own volition.

He said: "These people are low achievers. They're not academic, but people who you can give some cement and some bricks, or a piece of metal or wood, and they can use their hands."

Speaking after the meeting, Mr Lee said he was delighted at the outcome.

He said: "Nobody's said what Mr Littlefair is trying to do is wrong, it's just in the wrong location and is there a need for it in Darlington? That's something that's never been established."

Mr Littlefair said he was disappointed by the decision.

He added: "We're not sure what we're going to do at the moment; there are a lot of options.

"This decision was based on scare-mongering and ignorance, and nobody was willing to look and see what was going to happen and how it would work.

"This is nimbyism at its worst.

"It would be an economic benefit for the area."

He added: "A lot of money has been spent and I'm certainly going to do something.

"At this time, the plan is to push ahead and, if the training centre doesn't get the go-ahead, we'll see what else we can do, because we need to do something with it."