VILLAGERS have appealed for help over controversial plans to build a doctors’ surgery and 26 new homes on the outskirts of Darlington.

An impassioned plea from one Middleton St George resident was met with a round of applause at a meeting of Darlington Borough Council's planning committee.

However, the narrow 4-3 majority to oppose the scheme has left the application undetermined. The proposal had been to pass the application, but as councillors voted against this, and there was no proposal to reject it, the future of the plan is unclear.

A raft of objections were heard during the meeting, including noise issues from a nearby depot and railway, over-subscription of schools in the area and a claim more housing was unnecessary.

The applicants argued that the imminent closure of Middleton St George’s Felix House Surgery – which serves around five per cent of the borough – made it vital that the plans were approved.

However, residents suggested the proposals would only exacerbate the village’s ongoing battle against housebuilding.

Ward councillor Doris Jones said: “As late as 11am this morning I have spoken to NHS England who have stated they are looking at three sites in Middleton St George to develop.

“No matter what happens, we’ll have a doctors’ surgery to go to, which will be funded by them – we won’t go without.

“The developers know full well that the NHS will provide us with a place to go and even the doctors themselves. They’ve been extremely sneaky trying to get this through.”

The plans to build a doctors’ surgery, pharmacy and car park off Yarm Road were brought in to counter the retirement of a senior partner at the practice who plans to “revert the surgery to a residential property or another suitable use”.

Darlington Borough Council planning officer, Dave Coates, said the current application would become defunct if developers decided to remove the surgery aspect of their proposals.

But many residents claimed Middleton St George was being used as a scapegoat for the shortfalls in the council’s local plan housing quota which must see 9,900 dwellings built in the borough before 2036.

Resident Vera Greenwell said: “We have to live with this decision every day. They’re not the ones trying to get through Middleton St George at 3pm – it’s impossible.

“We can’t take any more and we’re asking for help from the council.

“They should be on our side, not looking in favour of the developers. Please help us.”