EMOTIONS ran high at a special meeting called to discuss proposed developments on Blackwell parkland.

Many residents attended Darlington Council’s place scrutiny committee meeting at the Dolphin Centre today (Thursday, September 17) to make their objections to some of the council’s proposals very clear.

The plans include the building of high quality homes and retirement apartments but existing residents expressed their concerns over traffic increases, insufficient amenities and the degradation of historic parkland.

Resident Hilary Rowley passionately challenged the council over several issues, including why the number of homes in the proposal had increased.

Her sentiments were shared by resident Bill Paton who said that a substantial amount of the Blackwell electorate was “dismayed” by the consultation process.

He said that the original proposal gave no mention of retirement flats, adding that there are an estimated 300 flats already available for rent or sale in Darlington.

Mr Paton said: “There appears to be very little due care and attention to the feelings and resentment by residents of Blackwell and their thoughts and requirements; the council is supposed to work on behalf of the resident not on behalf of the council.”

In response, Darlington Council’s assistant director for economic initiative, John Anderson, stressed that the proposals were just that, and that some issues would have to be resolved once more detailed plans had been made.

He explained the increase in the number of homes was to illustrate the higher level of development that the council could opt for to help it fulfil the need for 6,000 new homes in Darlington over the next decade.

He said: “I am sorry that members of the public felt that we have not got the balance right.

“In the consultation we have tried to be as open with all the information and evidence and reports that we have done.

“They are all on the website and we have tried to have a conversation at this stage well before we get to a planning application and before cabinet makes the decision on whether to include it in the local housing plan.”

Ward councillor Heather Scott said that the retirement flats were the most contentious element of the proposals and should be removed and the committee recommended that the council researches further into whether Darlington actually needs them.

Committee chairman Cllr Bob Carson acknowledged that the areas under consideration were ‘extremely extensive and beautiful’ and that any future development should be in keeping with the existing surroundings.