A SMALL band of demonstrators braved the wind and rain this morning to protest about the loss of about 200 trees on the outskirts of Darlington.

The Blackwell Residents Action Group was joined by Friends of the Earth and other activists at the site of the former Blackwell Grange Golf Course, on Carmel Road South in Darlington.

Cars tooted their horns in support as they drove past the demonstrators, who were crowded under umbrellas at the edge of the site.

And protesters are hoping to meet with town MP Jenny Chapman soon to voice their concerns.

It is estimated that nearly 200 trees have been cut down to make way for a 59-home development there, leading to dismay in the community at the altered landscape and loss of 100-year-old trees.

But Darlington Borough Council has confirmed that the removal of the trees was covered by council planning permission, and all above board.

Residents angered by the loss have renamed the development “Butchers Gate” after saying it looked like a hurricane had struck the area. Ribbons have been tied around the remaining trees earmarked for removal.

And yesterday protesters also raised questions about whether the protected Great Crested Newts on the site had been looked after properly, despite the housebuilder Story Homes’ assurances that all work had been overseen by an ecologist and rubber-stamped by Natural England.

Clive Rickaby said: “We have got pictures of Carmel Road South in 1937 and the trees are about the same size as they are now, so we think they are at least 100 years old.”

He said questions also needed to be asked about how effectively the newts had been protected.

Matthew Snedker, of Darlington Friends of the Earth, said the rough grass that is used by newts to hibernate in had been driven over ahead of any protective measures being put in place.

There was some question over whether the developer had a newt protection licence for the site earlier this month, with Natural England, the body which issues the licences, initially saying it had no record of the document.

However it later confirmed Story Homes had a full licence which had been issued on February 22.

Campaigners had reported the developer to Durham Police after being told the company had no licence to move the protected newts.