Been having a chat with Will Roberts - Northern Echo reporter - and he’s been doing a bit of digging as to what’s happening with regards to ‘Hycroft’ becoming a school for kids with behavioural and emotional problems.

The former nursing home received C2 planning permission in early June, but since then things seem to have gone a bit quiet as to if and when the work will start.

I rang Will on Tuesday and, being the generous bloke he is, agreed to contact ‘Keys’ (The care providers) and Durham County Council for an update on how things are progressing.

It seems that a bit of a contradiction is going on!

On the one hand, Keys have said they have had discussions with Durham county council and say there is a need for this establishment in the north east, on the other, Durham council say they have not been contacted by the care providers!

Whatever the case, it looks likely that the school will go ahead as planned as ‘Keys’ say they are just going through the legalities before completing the sale.

It seems to me, in this time of government cut-backs, that the massive costs that will be incurred by local authorities to fund this school, is totally unjustified. How can a responsible council spend a fortune on funding a school like this when, in Durham alone, they have decided to close 12 old peoples care homes?

I firmly believe that there will be NO funding from Durham county council in this venture and any other authorities, that are closing homes for the elderly, should NOT be using any part of their budget towards NEW schools for children with behavioural or emotional problems.

Read Will’s full report in tomorrows Northern Echo. (Friday 30th July)