A VILLAGE referendum is to be held over the construction of a second children’s play area.

Hurworth Parish Council has announced that it is investigating options for a second play area, and possible locations within the village.

Residents of Hurworth and Hurworth Place will be asked to share their opinion via a survey on whether a second play area is required, and if it is, where it should be located.

The play area will be funded by the first tranche of the Section106 money the village received from development company Miller Homes, given to the village to reduce the impact of recent housing developments.

One area currently identified as a potential site for the play area is in the Manorfield vicinity, which has proved a controversial spot from residents living nearby.

Last week, a letter was posted to several residents in the Manorfield area, in which a resident, who remains anonymous, asked for support against the play area being created in that location, and at Thursday's parish council meeting, residents expressed their strong opinions ‘for’ and ‘against’ the community facility being placed on Manorfields.

Manorfields was described by one village resident as “the perfect place” for the play area – yet others others feared the impact the site would have on those living nearby.

One resident in Westfield Drive, close to Manorfields, said: “Parents might bring their children down for half an hour to play and then leave, but on a night older kids will congregate to the park, and we’ve seen this time and time again. They drink, they smoke, they play music and if they have cars they’ll be doing donuts on the roads nearby. If 99 per cent of residents in the village say that they want a second park in Manorfields, what will the council do to protect the residents who it directly impacts?

“If we’re going to send out a questionnaire for the village to vote on this issue, I believe the question shouldn’t be would you like a second playground in Hurworth, but would you like a playground in front of your house, because I think you’d see different answers.”

Supporting the second play area was Ian Holmes, a resident of Hurworth who said that he was disappointed by the “loud opposition” contained in the anonymous letter which had been circulated around the neighbourhood and said he “thought he lived in a nicer community than this”, and said that he felt children should not be forced to walk half an hour to the other side of the village to play on the swings.

“We should be committed to giving life to this village, and that includes providing equipment for our young people to enjoy,” said Mr Holmes.

Last year, the parish council formed the Play Area Working Party, consisting of three parish council representatives and two local residents. The group will investigate possible locations of a second play area, consult residents via a questionnaire on whether a second play area is required, and if it is, where it should be located.

Chairman of the working group, Cllr Lynn Wylie, confirmed that should the result of the referendum show that the majority were in favour of a second playground, the site would be subject to planning consent from Darlington Borough Council.

In her statement, Cllr Wylie said: “There is very little green space in the village which can lend itself which is of suitable size and safe location to be considered as a location for a play area.

“The first tranche of 106 money is now available to the village, and although a significant sum of money, it is insufficient to build a play area. The final two tranches of 106 funding are dependent on Millers building and selling a set number of homes. So, if the play area were to be built soon, alternative funding streams may have to be subsequently applied for.

“Work is currently well under way on the referendum questionnaire and will be delivered to all homes as soon as it is ready.”