RESIDENTS look likely to lose their fight against a school's plan for an extension, despite an appeal to the Local Government Ombudsman.

Since January, residents of Lodore Grove, Acklam, Middlesbrough, have been locked in a dispute over Acklam Grange School's plan for a new computer wing.

They claim the £1.2m development, which would be open to all Middlesbrough youngsters and the wider community, would cause an unacceptable increase in traffic.

They also say it would be too near homes, and would be out of character with its surroundings.

Despite a petition and 61 letters of objection, councillors have endorsed the plan.

Ron Arundale, chairman of the Lodore Grove Triangle Residents' Association, said: "The consultation process has been a farce. The residents directly affected by the proposals were initially given only three weeks' notice to make representations."

After becoming frustrated with the council's complaints process, the group referred its objections to the Ombudsman.

But, in her preliminary response, ombudsman Helen Webster states: "Having carefully considered the report to the planning committee and your comments, it seems that the decision was made properly. My provisional conclusion is that you have not been caused injustice."

Ms Webster invites further information to guide her final decision.

Frank Marton, vice-chairman of the residents' group, said: "If we lose, we want considerable compensation and better control of the traffic."

A council spokesman said residents had been given ample opportunity to put their case.

"We have to balance the need to consult people with the need to deal with planning matters quickly and efficiently, and we believe that, in this case, we got the balance right," he said.

John Bate, the headteacher at Acklam Grange, yesterday described the new wing as a "lifetime opportunity for our children."