Residents have been left furious after plans to transform the site of a former County Durham pub into a petrol station and shop were approved.
Proposals for the former Falcon Pub site, near Chester-le-Street, were met with over 200 objections from local residents after the application was made in November 2021.
Many expressed concerns about health and safety and the environment, with some commenting that the plans for the site at Pelton Lane, South Pelaw, would further decrease poor road safety in the area.
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But now the controversial plans submitted to Durham County Council have been approved by the planning committee.
And it has angered residents who were against the proposals for a fuel filling station, convenience store, canopy and petrol pumps, with associated access and car parking.
Local resident Daniel Smith who campaigned against the proposals said: "I've lived and breathed this campaign for about two months now so it's devastating that it's been approved.
"It's disappointing that there's been 209 objections but we've basically wasted our time.
"We've spent so many hours speaking to people about their thoughts but when it came to the planning committee meeting it felt like that was glossed over and brushed to one side.
"We had five minutes in total to speak at the meeting, which worked out as two-and a-half-minutes between me and another resident.
"It felt like we were in court and when we had 30 seconds left to speak someone would shout it at you. It was a horrible experience."
The 30-year-old added: "There's been a lot of angry residents on Facebook and now some of them are calling for a judicial review.
"But I don't think it would make a difference because it felt like their minds were already made up. One councillor even said it would be an asset to the community. They didn't care."
Daniel joined Councillor Tracie Smith, who represents Chester-le-Street North ward, in campaigning against the plans.
Cllr Smith previously told ChronicleLive that the "overwhelming view of residents is that they want to refuse this planning application very, very strongly".
But on Thursday she informed residents that the plans had been approved by the Northern Planning Committee at Durham County Council.
Cllr Smith thanked all residents who submitted written objections to the plans before adding that she believes there is no third party right to appeal and the applicant has three years to complete the scheme.
The announcement was met with a stream of people voicing their anger at the outcome.
One resident said: "What a total joke… it makes a mockery of the whole system. People can object as much as they like but they still just do what they like."
Another said: "How can so many objections not even be taken into account at all.
"I'd love to know if those who voted for it also live next to a fuel station and all night shop. No need to answer that, it'll be of course not."
They added: "I truly hope everyone simply boycotts this place when it opens and it fails miserably as a business venture very quickly."
"If there is anything we can do to contest the decision please let us know asap. We're more than happy to contribute to a go fund me to start the judicial review as I’m sure most residents are", another added.
A spokesperson for Durham County Council said they do not comment of approved planning applications.
