A PROTEST group is calling on villagers to get behind a campaign against “damaging plans” for a housing estate which will extend the boundary of a picturesque village.

Members of Hurworth Against Detrimental Development (HADD) have hit back at claims made by the developers, and are calling on villagers to attend a forthcoming meeting when objections to the scheme will be formalised.

Members are meeting tonight at The Mustard Tree, Hurworth with the aim of formalising objections to the planning application.

The Banks Group has submitted plans to Darlington Brough Council build 100 houses off Roundhill Road and made a number of claims in a recent article in The Northern Echo and Darlington & Stockton Times.

The company alleged that the development “would be in keeping with the existing character, size and scale of Hurworth village”.

Banks also said that traffic management measures for both Roundhill Road and other locations in the village had been included in the plans, while measures to address local flooding and drainage concerns have also been developed.

However, HADD members say the claims made by Banks were “completely without foundation and deliberately misleading”.

Simon Coultas, Parish Councillor & HADD member, said: “The implication from the article is that residents are in favour of this proposal which is not wholly the case.

“Villagers were given no right of reply and, in the interests of balance, public information and transparency, the claims made by Banks in the article should be openly challenged and explored within the public domain.”

The main concerns & objections of HADD to the proposed development are: • The Hurworth village boundary will be extended, opening up the likelihood of further developments, as has been seen in Middleton St George.

• The impact on the current catchment area for Hurworth school places. A minimum of 100 family houses will fill classes leaving some Darlington and village children without the Hurworth schooling option.

• The development doesn’t offer affordable housing in Hurworth – this does not assist young people wanting to remain or move into the village.

• 100 houses will cause an inevitable increase in traffic in and around Hurworth. Already, speeding through the village, traffic congestion and parking issues near schools is a major concern for residents.

• The proposed development site and access area are very prone to flooding and excess surface water. Construction on the site increases the risk of flooding and drain or sewerage overflow in the neighbouring housing and roads.

• The eco structure of the proposed development and adjoining areas will be destroyed, resulting in the loss of hedgerows, trees and nesting sites, including an already red listed bird, the Tree Sparrow.

More than 50 villagers attended the latest parish council meeting to question Banks about its plans, and HADD described the turnout as “a clear demonstration of concern amongst local people”.

Judith Aston, HADD Vice Chairperson, said: “These are very genuine concerns among a large percentage of residents. There is little or no advantage in the development to the village as a community and a lot at stake if it goes ahead.

“This proposal has now reached a critical stage and we all need to act now to support Hurworth rather than looking back in the years to come and saying we HADD a beautiful village and we missed the opportunity to save it.”