SCORES of people flocked to an open exhibition outlining where homes could be built on historic parkland in Darlington.

Parts of the former Blackwell Golf Course and parkland off Grange Road have been earmarked for development by Darlington Borough Council to help fill the projected need for around 6,000 new homes in the borough over the next decade.

The council intends that the new homes in Blackwell would be a mix of executive houses, luxury apartments and assisted living accommodation.

The proposals have been met with opposition amid claims that the land, which was first cultivated in the 1700s, holds too much historical and environmental importance to be built on.

Among those at the exhibition held at the Blackwell Grange Hotel today (Wednesday, July 22) were Glenfield Road residents Angela and Michael Green who believe the land should be enhanced for the benefit of the whole community.

Mr Green said: “Tarmac and mock Tudor homes are not going to add anything to the area.

“I have recently walked around the wildflower meadows and they are just beautiful; I would look at it with the point of view of it being a beauty spot and this is just a rape of the countryside.

“They will go ahead anyway, and they will just destroy something that should be a real public amenity.”

Mrs Green pointed to a report commissioned by the council which outlined dozens of sites of historical significance on the land, including a Victorian ice house and gardens.

She said that the authority could have added “a real feather in its cap” if it took the report’s suggestions on board and applied for Lottery and European funding to turn the land into a protected and enhanced public park.

Elton Parade resident Pat Williams said she understood the council’s need to build more homes in the borough but hoped that any future development on the Blackwell Land will incorporate areas of public parkland.

She said: “It will be very interesting to see the plans for the actual houses.”

Darlington Council’s planning policy officer Bryan Huntley has previously explained that the council has made efforts to preserve particular areas of historical significance when it produced the proposals.

Speaking at the exhibition he said: “It has been a fantastic turnout, we are really pleased with the comments that people have made in the sense that the plans are clear.

“Some are positive, others are not so positive, but I think everybody is taking it in the spirit of consultation and I am happy with the turn out.”

The consultation period continues until August 28 after which the responses will be discussed at a special council scrutiny meeting on September 17 before going before cabinet members in October.