PEOPLE have won a campaign to have their say on controversial proposals for a Darlington park.

The council has agreed to re-open consultation on plans to create sports pitches and a pavilion in South Park after protests from people living nearby.

The Cleveland Bridge company has offered to create the facilities close to the park's Bedford Street entrance, in exchange for permission to build 95 houses on a former sports field in Geneva Lane.

Both proposals were agreed in principle by councillors at a planning meeting on July 2.

Householders in Bedford Street and Victoria Embankment contacted Park East ward councillors to complain that they had not been consulted fully about the plans.

The council hand-delivered letters to residents yesterday to inform them that the consultation process has been reopened.

People have 21 days to make their views known to the local authority.

A council spokeswoman said: "At the meeting on July 2 the application was approved in principle, subject to conditions.

"However, due to concerns over the consultation, the consultation period has been extended and the committee will consider residents' feedback at the next meeting, on July 30."

Park East councillors Cyndi Hughes, Joe Lyonette and Glen Reynolds appealed on behalf of residents for the council to listen to people's views.

In a letter to residents they said they would continue to press the issue with the council until the decision to re-open talks had been made.

The plans for South Park and Geneva Lane are to be sent to Deputy Prime Minister John Prescott for approval

Resident Paul Greenwood said he and two others had not been consulted about the project.

"We feel as though they have tried to sneak this through," he said.

Residents are concerned about a number of issues, including allowing cars into the park where children play and plans to build the pavilion on a site originally designated as a young people's area.

They also believe the pavilion will have an oppressive presence on the open land.

The South Park plans can be viewed in the reception area at the town hall during normal working hours.