DEMANDS that a council planning committee be investigated have been refused.

However, members of Morley Carr Action Group, who believe the decision to permit the building of 350 homes at Morley Carr Farm, in Yarm, is legally unsound, have indicated they will take the matter to judicial review.

The decision could still be called in by the Government and all sides are waiting for that decision before taking further action.

Peter Horner, of Morley Carr Farm Action Group, has outlined a number of concerns in letters and emails to Neil Schneider, chief executive of Stockton Borough Council, which have been seen by The Northern Echo.

In the letters Mr Horner said: An important report into the issue had not been read by councillors; Safety concerns, including the safety of a high-pressure gas main at the site, were not taken into consideration; An independent traffic survey should have been carried out; Councillors were ordered to vote on party lines before the planning committee, instead of keeping an open mind; The area for development falls outside the council's own designated area for new building.

In one of his letters to the chief executive, Mr Horner said: "We are still furious that Stockton Borough Council has allowed planning applications to be submitted for developments still outside the boundary of developing and evenmore disgusted in actually approving Morley Carr Farm.

"Yarm residents are disgusted and unhappy with the council.We did not get a fair trial. In other words, it was approved even before the meeting started."

In his latest response, dated October 2, Mr Schneider took on the often brought-up issue that the council has failed to provide a five-year housing supply plan, which makes it easier for developers to get planning applications through.

He explained that housebuilder had reduced the number of homes being built, there was less money for homes, there were fewer brownfield sites and a reduction in state funding to provide brownfield sites.

He said: "I do not agree that public comments are disregarded. Disagreement is not the same as disregarded."