CAMPAIGNERS against overdevelopment in a village say they have been “badly let down” by a council after they proved the authority provided incorrect figures to a failed planning appeal.

A Government planning inspector had already ruled that Darlington Borough Council got its housing projection figures wrong when he allowed an appeal for 250 homes on a greenfield site in Middleton St George earlier this year.

But it has now emerged the council also provided incorrect figures for the number of children expected to attend the local primary school, which campaigners feel could have swayed his decision on the new estate's future sustainability.

David Sheen, chairman of the steering group creating a neighbourhood development plan for Middleton St George, and ward councillor Doris Jones said they are frustrated by the mistakes and called on the council’s chief executive Ada Burns to hold the officers responsible to account.

In emails sent by a senior Darlington Borough Council officer to Mr Sheen, the errors are described as “regrettable”, but adds: “I do understand how you have formed the view that the erroneous information may have influenced the inspector’s assessment of sustainability.

“However it is my considered opinion that I do not believe this to be the case.”

As part of the appeal process, the developer agreed to pay £611,000 to provide school places for additional children in the village.

The funding is not restricted to Middleton St George, where the village primary school could be difficult to extend, and could instead be spent extending other schools where village children would be sent by bus.

Mr Sheen said: “The council admitted its figures were wrong – they said there was ‘a mistake carrying out the relevant calculations’ and that they don’t yet know where those children who can’t fit in to St George’s will go.

“You potentially have a situation where large numbers of children will have to be bussed elsewhere for school. That is not sustainable development.”

Cllr Jones and Mr Sheen were joined by MP Phil Wilson and ward councillor Steve York in London on Tuesday to meet with Stephen Williams, from the Department for Communities and Local Government, to protest against overdevelopment, a meeting they described as "positive".

A council spokeswoman said: "The council report to the planning inquiry explained that there were issues with physical capacity at the school if the development went ahead. Unfortunately, it did contain some errors regarding the number of extra places likely to be needed but we have worked with the correct data in considering the impact of the proposed development.

"We are working with the school to develop ideas on how to increase capacity at St George’s, and the developer will be making financial contributions to improvements.”