MORE than 200 people packed a village church to question planning officers who are looking at plans for a home for troubled youths.

Residents in Hunwick questioned officers for more than an hour-and-a-half about plans submitted by Empowering Youth to Enable Success (Eyes) for a change of use of Lilac House, in South View, in the village centre.

The company wants to turn the family home into a residence for children aged between 11 and 16 with emotional or behavioural difficulties.

More than 120 residents have objected amid fears that the home would ruin the village centre and harm villagers, while hundreds more have signed a petition against it.

Peter Hughes, one of those leading the objections and who organised the meeting held in St Paul’s Church, said the large turn-out demonstrated the strength of feeling in the village.

He said: “The planning officers from Durham County Council have seen for themselves how strongly we feel.

I can now only urge residents who want their opinions to be taken into account to contact the council and make their comments.”

The residents applaudedwhen Mr Hughes read a letter from North-West Durham MP Pat Glass in which she voiced her objections.

She said a home like the one being proposed should be run by specialists and not for profit, and argued that Hunwick does not have the facilities to help children coming to the home.

Resident Alan Northcoate said: “This home is the wrong proposal in the wrong place for the wrong reason.”

Planning officer Colin Harding said it would be a few months before the application is ready to be considered by a committee.