PEOPLE are angry about a recommendation on the siting of a school for children with social, behavioural and emotional difficulties.

Members of Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council's cabinet have decided that formal consultation will begin on siting the school at the empty Alderman William Jones building in Grangetown, despite a 458-name pettion against the proposal.

It is hoped the school will open in September next year.

Evenually, after three orfour years, it would be moved to a purpose-built site.

But people living near the Jones building in Grangetown are worried that teenagers with behavioural difficulties may play truant and cause anti-social behaviour problems in the area.

Parents with pupils at neighbouring primary schools are concerned that their youngsters may be influenced by the older children.

Cabinet members had two other options for the siting of the school - to put it in the existing Eston Lowfields Centre or await the identification of alternative accommodation in future years.

But some Grangetown residents felt the Grangetown Centre, former home of a learning disability service, on the Bolckow Road Industrial Estate, would have been more suitable for the school.

That building has now been put up for sale by the council.

Sarah Appleton, whose daughters, aged ten and six, attend St Mary's Primary School, said: "It's shocking. There will be uproar. There are children from as young as four at St Mary's and this school would be literally over the fence from those children with behavioural problems. They could be dangerous."

Labour leader George Dunning said: "While one appreciates these units need to go somewhere within the borough, people in this area will not be happy that it has to go near two local primary schools."

Councillor Steve Kay, cabinet member for education, said anyone who objected would get another chance to bring forward their concerns.

He said: "Alderman William Jones is in a far more suitable location for these youngsters and it will need very little expenditure to receive them and can be made available as soon as required.

"If we use the Adult Training Centre, the project could be delayed for several months and would demand £600,000.