PLANS to build new homes in a picturesque dale village have met strong opposition.
The three proposed houses would be built on a car park to the rear of Fernaville’s Rest, Whorlton.
But councillors and villagers have fervently opposed the proposals on the grounds that parking would spill on to the village green.
More than 20 people attended Whorlton and Westwick’s December parish council meeting to air their grievances about the plan.
Jacqueline Everitt, who lives at The Steadings, said she was concerned about both the parking situation and the new houses overlooking her courtyard.
She said: “I am concerned the application will effectively take away the parking for the pub. It’s becoming very popular and good luck to the landlord.
“The parking areas are used by the residents and I do not wish to see the green torn up.
“Our courtyard is our only private area.
“I know that the village had said ten houses will be built in the village over the next 20 years but should the application go through it would leave very little scope for future developments.”
Teresa Irvine lives two doors down from Fernaville’s Rest.  
She said: “People will start to park in front of our houses. There is no way out for us as it’s too narrow in places, this can block you in and it can become a problem if the car park starts overflowing.
“Another problem is emergency vehicles having access – you hope they won’t be required but you never know when you might need them.”
A villager who wished to remain anonymous branded the plans “disgusting”.
Opposition to the car park plan was unanimous at the parish council on the grounds that it would force pub staff and customers to park on the village greens in front of the pub. 
Parish clerk Jonathan Dickinson said: “Trade recommendations based on the floor area of the pub recommend 30 spaces, the current application has 22.
“The publican is currently employing 25 people of whom ten are regularly on duty. This leaves five spaces for customers. The numbers are disproportionate.”
Related concerns included interrupted bin collections and the negative effect it could have on the pub’s business.
Whorlton has been no stranger to housing applications in recent months. A proposal to build three homes was approved in September and a plan for six more to the north of the village is also in the pipeline.
The parish council is unhappy at the pace of housing developments.
Mr Dickinson added: “This application contravenes the Neighbourhood Plan’s vision of ten houses in 20 years.
“Last month, Durham County Council approved the development of three houses in Whorlton, to permit another three now would vastly exceed the target rate.”
An application for three dwellings to the rear of Fernaville’s Rest was sent in November but amendments to the car park and bin storage plans have been put to county planners.
The grade II listed former Bridge Inn at Whorlton was taken over earlier this year by couple Thomas and Nicola Magnay and then renamed.
Mr Magnay said the popularity of Fernaville’s Rest often led to an overspill of cars.
He said: “The car park does get very full at times. We don’t police it but we try to stop people parking on the village greens and the roadside.
“There are walkers who park up in the village and go down onto the Teesdale Way.  We are getting busier and busier and people do come here by car.
“We are becoming an asset to the village and the feedback we’ve received has been fantastically positive so far.”
A decision plan will be made on Saturday, January 2.