A VILLAGE which has waited more than 50 years for its own community room has reacted with frustration after planners refused proposals to create one for free.

The plans involved turning a dilapidated barn at Thornton-le-Moor, near Northallerton, into a community meeting room, shop and cafe.

The development was part of plans by Thief Hole Cottages to create two more holiday homes on its existing accommodation site and offer the facilities for guests and residents of the village, which currently only has a pub.

But at Hambleton District Council’s planning meeting held yesterday (Thursday, May 23), planning officers recommended the plans be refused as they were “unsustainably located” and contrary to the Hambleton Local Development Framework.

Their report stated there was no safe and easy access to the site, which lies just outside the village, other than on the road.

They said the proposed creation of a footpath along the edge of a field was not satisfactory.

In a debate which raged for an hour, councillors representing the area made impassioned pleas to their fellow councillors to approve the plans, before they were rejected by seven votes to six.

Chairman of Thornton-le-Moor with Thornton-le-Street Parish Council, Ian Woods, said there were no objections to the plans, only “overwhelming support” from residents.

Ward councillor Robert Baker urged the meeting to support the application, saying: “For 50-odd years this community has been trying to get a community room. There’s nothing in Thorton-le-Moor that will make a community facility. This is the one chance of doing it.”

Councillor Anthony Wood said: “What makes it sustainable is people will go there for their pint of milk and not have to drive ten miles to Northallerton. “We’re here primarily to make life better for our residents, not to put artificial boundaries in their way.”

Those against the plans feared they contravened Local Development Framework guidelines for developments in Hambleton and allowing the framework would undermine decisions made on other plans.

The committee’s solicitor told the meeting the framework specified they had to decide whether a development was sustainable and that was something they could make a judgement on. Therefore they would not be going against the Local Development Framework if they voted in favour of the plans.

The day after the meeting, owner of Thief Hole Cottages Jessica Barker said many villagers were disappointed over the decision.

She said: “It’s unbelievable. They’re so disappointed.”