A SCHOOL’S plan to build a bridge over the Tees has raised concerns in the Yarm and Eaglescliffe area.

Well over 100 people packed out a public meeting at Egglescliffe with most people objecting to Yarm School’s proposal to erect a wooden bridge between Yarm and Egglescliffe.

The school argues the bridge would benefit both schoolchildren and members of the public who would be able to access protected Tees Heritage Park (THP) land more easily.

But Shane Sellers, chairman of Egglescliffe Area Residents Association, has expressed concern that the bridge could eventually lead to a revival of Yarm School’s abandoned plan to turn the Heritage Park into playing fields.

About 30 have so far objected to the planning application which has been submitted to Stockton Borough Council. However Eaglescliffe borough councillor, Phil Dennis, said he had been contacted by some parents who support the idea.

In 2012, Yarm School applied to Stockton Borough Council to create 11 new sports pitches and a pavilion on the north side of the river as well as a new bridge. However it was unanimously rejected by the planning committee in 2013 after councillors heard concerns that it would lead to the destruction of unspoilt land and hurt wildlife.

That plan was connected to another scheme for houses to be built on Yarm School’s current playing fields which also came to nothing.

Mr Sellers explained that few people objected to the bridge itself. Rather they were worried it would be used as a ‘Trojan horse,’ meaning the school would come up with further, related applications in the future.

He added that many people were annoyed that no representative of the school came to the public meeting, although a representative of the school’s planning agents, Nathanial Lichfield & Partners, did attend.

Mr Sellers said: “It’s what comes next, that’s the question we wanted answering. the man from Nathanial Lichfield said, ‘I’m only here to talk about the bridge.’ We wanted someone from the school to be they. They are part of our community and they need to work with us, not ignore us.”

A spokeswoman for Yarm School released an official statement, which said: “We want to provide a facility that can used by the whole community and make THP more accessible, not just to our pupils and teachers but to residents of and visitors to the town. We believe an additional bridge, funded by us, will bring significant recreational and business benefits.”

The would be situated by Atlas Wynd to the north and by Yarm School to the south. It would span 36m and be secured by steel pile foundations. There would also be a single 12m by 1.2m floating pontoon to help river users.