PLANS for a safe route to a proposed new school in Darlington have fallen through, it has emerged.

Alderman Leach Primary is being relocated to a £2.9m site on the West Park development in a controversial move that was announced last year.

Parents and local residents had waged a campaign against the closure of the current school, which has suffered from a major decline in pupil numbers in recent years.

Officials at Darlington Borough Council revealed this week that hopes for a pedestrian route through the West Park development had been dashed.

Consultants were appointed to work on a Home to School Travel Plan as part of the project.

They said that until housing had been built on the former Darchem factory site, children living to the south of West Park and to the west of West Auckland Road would have to use West Auckland Road as a route to school.

A report to the council's cabinet says: "It is unlikely that a route offering an alternative to the west side of West Auckland Road will be available for at least a couple of years after the proposed new school is opened."

But other measures to combat the loss will be put in place, according to the report.

It says: "Work will be required to build a new footpath in West Auckland Road where there is not one at the present time.

"Improvements to widen the footpath at the old railway bridge on the west side of West Auckland Road are also required.

"In addition, school crossing patrols will be re-deployed to appropriate crossing points. There will be light-controlled crossings at appropriate locations."

The council has applied to the Department for Education and Skills for the disposal of 6.4 acres at the site.

The design for the school is being based on the recently opened £2m Firthmoor Junior School, in Darlington.