A DEVELOPER has agreed to pay for a 20mph zone outside a school in response to concerns about road safety.

Prince Bishop Homes wants to build 24 homes in St Cuthbert’s Avenue, in Sacriston.

It already has permission for a similar scheme, which was granted by Durham County Council in April, but wants to change how the estate would be accessed.

The approved scheme would be accessed via St Cuthbert’s Way but the developer now wants to use Front Street instead.

The new proposal has been met with opposition from local residents, the head teacher of nearby St Bedes Roman Catholic Primary School and Sacriston Parish Council, with most objections relating to road safety and traffic problems.

St Bede’s headteacher Eve Alderson said: “It is my responsibility to ensure the safety of the pupils of St Bede’s coming in and out of school.

“I feel this is an extremely unfair suggestion when the new development will make it virtually impossible to do so and would suggest that it is in fact the developer’s responsibility to ensure the safety of everyone concerned by strongly considering alternative positioning of the access road.”

Christine Cummings, who is the school crossing patrol, said: “I feel that the building of these houses will put children in more danger when going and coming home from school.

“My priority is the safety of the children and general public and I consider this to be a very dangerous proposal.”

To allay people’s worries, Prince Bishops says it will pay around £9,000 to put a 20mph zone in the street, as well as road education and leafleting in the area.

The three and four bedroom homes would be built on a 0.49 hectare paddock on land adjacent to Front Street, around 200m to the north of the centre of the village.

Prince Bishops says the scheme is made up of affordable homes, which would be available as a “rent to buy” product, aimed at getting first time buyers on the housing ladder.

While the council says it does not think the model provides affordable housing, it supports the group’s application to the Homes and Communities Association for funding and does not object to the scheme.

Planners have recommended that the altered scheme is approved when it is considered by councillors next week, as they say it will increase opportunities for home ownership and provide short-term economic benefits to the village during construction.

A decision is due to be made at County Hall, in Durham, on Thursday, January 25.