Kier Living wants to build an access lane off the A67 Bowes Road to its 162-home development on land near Deerbolt Young Offenders’ Institution, in Startforth.
But villagers have responded angrily to the move citing safety concerns and wagons turning near the brow of a hill.
Startforth’s Judith Rodwell was outraged by the Kier plans.
She said: “There is a perfectly usable road that they have up at the borstal so I don’t know why they cannot use that.
“One of the reasons they gave was that it was too steep for lorries but I don’t think it’s any less steep up the main road.”
Kier Living has extended its application from three months to a year for the temporary road after other works by the Ministry of Justice were pushed back to February.
Developers had originally wanted to build a permanent access lane off the Bowes Road but Durham County Council’s highways department stepped in and moved it down to Lartington Lane.
In a letter to planners, Mrs Rodwell accused Durham County Council of showing “breathtaking” contempt to Startforth residents and complained of the “unbearable” noise from wagons entering the site.
“The new houses at Startforth Park has meant the traffic has increased,” she added.
“It has at least doubled at certain times of the day and it’s moving very fast.
“Part of it is down to the closing of the school – a lot of parents are having to drive their children over to Montalbo.”
Ms Rodwell also thought the developers were “jumping the gun” by applying for two V-Boards and a flagpole on the proposed entrance site.
Her neighbour, Peter Worley, was also unhappy with HGVs which would be turning on a “blind brow” and feared it would have “serious safety implications”.
Startforth Parish Council and nearby Barnard Castle Town Council have objected to the lane on safety grounds.
Startforth’s parish councillors are worried Dark Lane, Stainmore Close and Low Startforth Road could become congested and also feared the temporary road could become permanent.
Its statement to planners added: “We find it incredulous that Durham County Council would consider allowing Kier Housing to construct their ‘temporary’ access off the A67 Bowes Road as requested.
“We therefore strongly suggest that Durham County Council request Kier Housing to enter re-negotiations with the Ministry of Justice in order to conclude a satisfactory means of site access for both that does not put profit ahead of road and pedestrian safety issues.”
Kier Living has earmarked 12 homes to be built and sold by June this year. The company was not able to provide a comment at the time of going to press.
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