A NORTH-East council today (Tuesday, May 14) defended its decision to turn down plans for a new Government-backed 'free school'.

A four-day planning inquiry began to decide whether to allow the new secondary school - along with 350 new-build homes - in Ingleby Barwick, near Stockton.

Parents in the area joined together to form the Ingleby Manor Foundation Trust (IMFT) and were successful in their bid to the Government for the school.

But Labour-run Stockton Council refused to grant planning permission for the school on the grounds that the associated housing would be build on 'green wedge' land, which forms the boundary between Thornaby and Ingleby Barwick. IMFT and developers launched an appeal against the decision and the planning inspectorate decided a public inquiry should be held.

Today Rosemary Young, spatial planning manager for Stockton Borough Council, told the planning inspector Paul Griffiths at the inquiry that the council had turned down the plans on the basis that it was green wedge land and not earmarked for development, that it was unsustainable, and that not enough affordable housing had been allocated as part of the housing plans.

Councillors have said in the past that they were not against the idea of the school, just against the associated housing. The planned site is at Little Maltby Farm, which lies just off busy Low Lane at Ingleby Barwick. The road connects Middlesbrough with Yarm.

But Conservative South MP James Wharton told The Northern Echo that he was concerned at the 1,400 pupils that were bussed to nearby Yarm and Egglescliffe Schools each day - and said Ingleby Barwick desperately needed a second secondary school.

He said: "The problem is that Stockton Council never properly planned for Ingleby Barwick - they don't own any land suitable for a school.

"Now the only land available is with a commercial developer. They are not just going to give away the land without being able to get some profit out of it, which means housing."

The planning inquiry is expected to last until Friday at least, with residents and the IMFT giving evidence on Wednesday afternoon. Then developers and landowners are expected to have their say, before closing arguments on Friday.

The planning inspector is expected to make his decision within weeks.

Free schools were a coalition government initiative, championed by education secretary Michael Gove. They are taxpayer-funded and free to attend, but are not under local authority control.