PROPOSALS backed by a toppled MP to build a secondary school in a historic park look likely to be scrapped.

Preston Park was one of four possible sites Stockton Borough Council looked at to ease the pressure on school places in the area.

James Wharton, newly elected Conservative MP for Stockton South, said he was confident that during his first weekend in office he would save the park.

He has written to council leader Ken Lupton demanding that plans to relocate Egglescliffe School to the park be dropped.

Councillor Lupton said yesterday that the council would continue to look for alternative sites.

Mr Wharton won his hotlycontested seat with a slender majority of 332 votes from former Labour MP, Dari Taylor.

Their opposing views on the future of the 100-acre park in Eaglescliffe, which houses the 19th Century Preston Hall museum, attracted controversy and divided opinion.

Mr Wharton said he would do all he could to stop the proposal.

“I pledged that I would protect Preston Park and, my first act as the new MP for Stockton South was to do just that,” he said.

“I discussed this with senior councillors early on Friday morning. I cannot preempt what their position will be, but I believe there is a real chance Preston Park will be saved now that there is no MP support for the relocation.”

In his letter to Coun Lupton, Mr Wharton wrote: “I would like you to formally note that, unlike my predecessor, I will not support any such plans and will do all I can, both locally and at a national level, to oppose any moves by Stockton Borough Council to put them into action.”

Coun Lupton, a Conservative, said: “The council will continue to look at plans for alternatives in line with the policy decisions that have been made.”

A Facebook group, Protect Preston Park, was set up in April and has attracted more than 3,000 members.

Councillor Maureen Rigg, Liberal Democrat, who represents the Eaglescliffe ward, said: “We are delighted if the decision is made that the proposal is dead in the water. It has distracted from what we really need to do, which is to find a proper site for Egglescliffe and more school places for Ingleby Barwick.”