RESIDENTS have expressed their anger after a petition about the moving of a school was presented to Parliament without their knowledge.

Many people from Eaglescliffe say they feel betrayed by their MP, Dari Taylor, after she presented the petition regarding Egglescliffe School.

As part of improvements through the Building Schools for the Future scheme, the school was earmarked for demolition and rebuilding by Stockton Borough Council.

The council is reviewing several sites, with playing fields at Allens West, a few hundred yards from Egglescliffe School, considered the most likely.

Last Friday, residents of Eaglescliffe received a letter from Mrs Taylor telling them that she wholly supported the moving of the school to Preston Hall Park and that she had presented a petition to the House of Commons in favour of this.

Cynthia Hornsby, an Eaglescliffe resident, said: “Stockton Borough Council had already outlined plans to build the new school at Allens West, a few hundred yards away from the present school.

“I absolutely deplore the idea that Mrs Taylor is representing us without any consultation whatsoever, and yet is hand in glove with the residents of Ingleby Barwick. Preston Hall Park is the only leisure facility available to us in this area, and is extremely popular with people from many miles away.

“As a vast open space, it should be preserved in its entirety for future generations, not cut up piecemeal by a council that should have made provision for schooling in Ingleby Barwick long before now.”

Mrs Taylor, MP for Stockton South, said: “The petition I presented to the Commons was presented to me by the councillors of Ingleby Barwick.

“What I am trying to do here is open up a debate; this is an excellent school and is nationally recognised for being so. I surveyed the site at Allens West and, due to the pylons and power lines, I decided it was not a suitable place for the school.

“If the residents of Eaglescliffe were to present me with a petition, I would happily present it to the House of Commons.

“This is a continuing process and I would invite anybody with concerns to discuss them with me. I want what is best for this fantastic school and the children of my constituency.

“As far as I can see, the overspill car park at Preston Hall Park is the best site available for the school’s relocation.

However, this is an open and democratic society and, ultimately, the people will decide what is best for them and their children.”