RESIDENTS battling to stop a historic hall being transformed into a children’s holiday centre have launched a legal challenge at the Court of Appeal.

Newby Wiske Action Group lodged the legal action in London over Hambleton District Council’s decision to approve plans to convert the former North Yorkshire Police headquarters in the village south of Northallerton into a PGL centre with 550 guest bed spaces and staff accommodation.

The challenge could further delay a decision over the future of the property, questions over which have persisted since North Yorkshire Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner Julia Mulligan announced was not suitable for the force’s base in 2012.

The move comes just days after the campaigners, who believe the PGL centre will shatter the peace in the village, were refused permission at the High Court for a judicial review of authority’s decision and costs were awarded in favour of the council.

The council has declined to comment on the latest legal action, but after last week’s ruling the authority said it was looking forward to seeing the development of the site progress.

The action group said 60 residents of South Otterington, Warlaby, Maunby and Newby Wiske had attended a public meeting to discuss options following the High Court ruling and everyone had backed fighting on at the Court of Appeal.

The group said its legal team was so committed to the challenge that it had offered to work without fees and said the Environmental Law Foundation, a charity whose president is the Prince of Wales, had signalled interest in supporting the residents.

Group spokesman David Stockport said the legal action initially aimed to get an extension for the deadline of its evidence until November and was based on three grounds, with allegations relating to the council’s consideration of the Equality Act and health and safety.

He said one challenge was over a 2.5m drop between the parkland and Maunby Lane, plans for children’s activity equipment close by and “no barrier to stop children from falling into the gap”.

Mr Stockport said: “We believe plans have not been considered for a fence there because it would impact on the setting of the grade II listed hall and at this stage could be refused on those grounds.”