A PROPOSAL to open an amusement arcade on a road serving five schools has attracted objections and a petition.

The application is for 30 gaming machines at 8-10 Cockerton Green, Darlington, premises used until recently as a caf. The application has been lodged with the borough council by Count Cash, of Middlesbrough.

The proposal has outraged church leaders, teachers and local businessmen.

Fr Richard Wallace of St Mary's Church in Cockerton, told the D&S Times that a petition was on its way around five local schools, two other churches and local businesses.

He said: "When we heard the news on Tuesday we were moved to start a petition against this proposal.

"I think that gaming premises are not suitable in the midst of a residential area with a large number of school children passing by each day.

"It could well entice or influence them to play on the machines and these kind of places always attract large numbers of teenagers.

"Fr Jed Lavender at Holy Family RC Church has agreed to pass it around his congregation. Everyone I have spoken to says this is inappropriate for our community with so many children around. We are still regarded as a village and shops here are well-used by the local community."

The Rev Alan Smithson, minister at Cockerton Methodist Church, lent his support: "We would be very concerned about this for the character of the village. There are a lot of schools in this area and a gaming business could be too much of a temptation for the children."

Barrie Lamb, a former Cockerton councillor, who runs a nearby toy shop, believes it could repel rather than attract business to the area. He said: "I don't think it is the right sort of development for the green and I imagine a lot of the shops already there will think the same.

"From a gambling point of view, there is also the fact that children from local schools in the area would be going past the shop on a regular basis."

Linda Hartley, head teacher at Branksome School, said she was concerned and would write to the council.