RESIDENTS of a village say they are astonished at the actions of planning officials over an application for a controversial extension to a nearby caravan site.

Villagers in Kirkby in Cleveland are angry that officers at Hambleton District Council recommended planning permission be granted for the extension to the Toft Hill Farm holiday park two weeks before the date for objections closed.

The plans for the holiday park include adding 15 static caravans to the 30 already in place and building an amenity block.

The application will be considered by the council’s Development Management Committee on Thursday (Jan 7), but the decision is likely to be deferred after a site visit planned for Monday was unable to go ahead.

The site is on the edge of the North Yorkshire Moors National Park and is popular with walkers and horse riders.

Local residents oppose the extension, saying the single track access road to the site is dangerous to walkers and horses.

Objectors are also worried about the size of the site compared to the village and potential damage to the landscape.

Concerns have also been raised by the Highways Agency over the access road and the lack of visibility at the junction leading to the village.

David Chadwick, a resident from Kirkby, said: "The application has almost the entire village out against it. There have been public meetings and over 50 residents have filed objections.

"We have been astonished that although the last day for objectors to make their views known was December 31, the planning officer wrote her report recommending the application be allowed on December 22.

"Residents are consequently left with the feeling that the planning department feels free to ignore its own procedures, its own policy, the Highway Authority and are at a loss what to do."

Tim Wood, planning manager at the council, said: "Due to the weather a site visit was cancelled so we will recommend the decision is deferred until the next meeting in February.

"Any correspondence received will be read by councillors this week, but now objectors have another month to make their views known."