RESIDENTS have been angered by plans to build 26 new homes in a North Yorkshire village - and the local parish council is demanding £30,000 if the homes are built.

Dalton Parish Council, near Thirsk, has called for permission to be refused, and 19 letters of objection have been received to oppose the development.

The land, in Pit Ings Lane, has been put forward for the construction of 12 detached, 12 terrace and two semi-detached homes, plus 15 garages in a cul-de-sac.

But there have been numerous objections to the plans.

Objections have been raised about several aspects of the plans, from the size and number of the houses to traffic and drainage difficulties. Current plans include buildings which are two-and-a-half storeys high and may overlook existing properties.

Now the parish council has demanded a £30,000 payment for the upkeep of a nearby playing field and for extra equipment if the scheme goes ahead.

Members have also called for a third of the buildings to be bungalows, and for no buildings to be higher than two storeys.

North Yorkshire Police have called for road calming measures, lighting of pathways and the emergency link, and secure boundaries and access, which have been agreed by the applicants, Shepherd Homes.

One letter from adjoining neighbours has been received to support the plans.

"The building of high-quality houses in this development can only improve the general character of the village and balance the number of bungalows or smaller houses that dominate the western end of the village," said Mark and Maria Palmer. "We are perplexed with the amount of objection from some people in the village as most of the objectors live in housing built in the last 15 years."

The Parish Council objection read:"The design of the two-and-a-half-storey buildings is not in keeping with other buildings in the village and will cause existing buildings to be overlooked." It said there would be additional traffic from building machinery during construction and up to 100 extra car journeys each day when the homes were completed.

Updated: 08:54 Monday, June 30, 2003