A PARISH council claims it has not had enough time to comment on plans for a controversial development of 83 homes.

Councillor Colin Douglas, the chairman of Low Coniscliffe and Merrybent Parish Council, near Darlington, said more time was needed to consult residents over the application by George Wimpey North East to build in Merrybent Drive.

The parish council received the application on September 22 and has been asked to give its formal response by Monday. But its next meeting is not scheduled until Wednesday.

Coun Douglas said: "There's a lot we're not happy about. They've left us less than ten days, which is not enough time to speak to parishioners.

"There hasn't been any consultation. This particular development is going to increase the size of the community by nearly a third. There are not enough places at the school, it doesn't have a village hall, it doesn't have a play-area - none of the normal amenities that you would expect with such an increase of this size."

Simon Usher, land and planning director for Wimpey, said he hoped to meet the parish council to discuss its worries and discuss some computer-generated images of the development.

He said the scheme conformed with government guidelines about the efficient use of brownfield sites and would also include a village green, a pond and community woodland, so there would be plenty of open space.

Mr Usher said: "We think it is an excellent design, built in a traditional village style and drawing from traditional village features.

"We don't think it will put any pressure on any of this area, nor do we think it will have any major traffic impact."

Outline planning permission for the development was granted last year.

A spokeswoman for Darlington Borough Council said Monday was the preferred date to receive submissions.

But she said that the parish council could submit any comments up until the date when the planning committee discusses the proposals, which is expected to be either November 16 or December 14.

An open meeting of the parish council will take place on Wednesday, at 7pm, in High Coniscliffe Village Hall, when the applictaion will be discussed.