A CHILDREN'S home has been approved for a quiet village despite residents' fears it could "split their community in two".

Durham County Council applied to turn a house into a children's home for up to two children aged eight to 17.

Residents on the County Durham street were "unanimous" in opposing the scheme, a planning meeting heard on Tuesday (April 12).

They raised concerns about impact on a quiet street, fear of crime, anti-social behaviour, noise, harming the street's character, impact on elderly residents, and that it would "split the street in two" and "look like a prison".

In 28 letters and emails of objection, it was remarked that "no one on the street wants the development to go ahead".

A parish council clerk said they understood the need for children's homes but did not feel this was the appropriate property, citing traffic, parking, access and road safety issues and saying it would harm privacy and "community feel".

The clerk said: "The street is very small and the community would be split in two."

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Resident Paul Burnside said it was a good facility in the wrong location and the back lane, "the social hub of this community", would be "dominated" by a car park.

He said: "If the proposal goes ahead, 20% of residents would lose a next-door neighbour.

"Staff parking would render community activities a thing of the past."

Councillor Paul Taylor said in a statement it could have a "profound and long-lasting effect" on the close-knit community, with "not a single resident" supporting it.

He said he was delighted when he heard about the proposal as "there is nothing more important in life than caring for our young people".

But he was disappointed at the unique location, saying it would "completely alter this quiet and contented little haven" and harm community cohesion "forever".

"I have done nothing but worry constantly that this area is just not suitable," he added.

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Cllr Jonathan Elmer said he had supported the "much-needed" home plan at first but came to believe it was likely to disrupt the community.

He said: "I was frustrated that residents' were in unanimous opposition and I initially felt this to be a case of NIMBY.

"But more recently... it's impossible not to be swayed by the strength of the arguments they've made.

"I've been reluctantly forced to consider that this is the right development but in the wrong place."

However Cllr Kevin Shaw said: "I fully understand the concerns of the local residents, but we're talking about vulnerable children here and need, and those needs are paramount."

Cllr Simon Wilson said: "The children who will be coming into this deserve a chance to build into a community.

"For me I believe this is a good development. This is a chance to involve young people in their community and not to just see them as some sort of social pariah."

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Laura Caunce, strategic manager for the council's children’s residential service, said they had ambitious plans to expand.

She said: "We’re in a position at the moment where some looked-after children are having to live outside County Durham because there isn’t sufficient provision to care for children who’ve had a less than ideal start in life.

"It’s very important that children live in a community and they’re very much part of the community. I think living in a a close-knit community is ideal.

"It's not a secure facility. It's very much about recreating a normal family life.

"We will be very respectful to the neighbours."

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Planners recommended approval. Senior planning officer Jennifer Jennings said they acknowledged residents' genuine concerns.

"However, officers do not consider that there is sufficient evidence that the anticipated incidents that are expected and speculated to happen would materialise to any great degree."

Councillors voted 10-2 to approve the plan.

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