A COUNCIL decision to allow 18 flats to be built in the West End of Darlington sparked angry scenes yesterday.

Kebbell Homes was granted permission for the development in Cleveland Terrace, amid heated protests at the Darlington Borough Council planning committee meeting.

Some home-owners who packed the meeting at the town hall vented their anger, shouting "disgrace" as they walked out.

Planning committee chairman Councillor Frank Robson was accused of blackmailing councillors into approving the scheme.

The site was previously used by Bannatyne Fitness as its national offices and administration centre, before the company's relocation to Haughton Road.

Kebbell's proposal was to demolish the offices on the land, to make way for 18 one and two-bedroomed flats, and parking space for 20 vehicles.

Council planning officer Jeremy Smith told committee members that the scheme was being recommending for approval subject to certain conditions.

Council leader Councillor John Williams said: "To allow a residential development on this land would be a planning gain, because at the moment it has commercial use."

But Councillor Gerald Lee branded the proposal "overbearing, over-developed and out-of-character".

He said the 18 properties were being "shoe-horned" on to the site and would have a detrimental effect on the quality of life of people living nearby, particularly those homes in Greencroft Close.

Residents had called for councillors to make a site visit and to consider reducing the proposed development to 14 flats.

But proposals to defer a decision for a site visit or to wait for the outcome of a public inquiry into a flats development at Cockerton were defeated when they were voted on.

Coun Robson then sparked anger when he said that committee members had "a responsibility to council tax-payers".

He said: "If this goes to appeal and we lose, it will cost this authority a lot of money." Coun Glen Reynolds replied: "That's blackmail".

Planning permission was granted after a majority of members voted in favour.