A COUNCIL has agreed to reconsider a sports field development in response to public pressure.

Heighington Parish Council was successful in its application for planning consent for developments on a field in Hall Lane.

It proposes to create facilities for football, including a pavilion and changing rooms, car parking and a security fence.

Darlington Borough Council's planning committee approved the scheme, despite objections from 109 villagers, and the parish council had intended to apply to the Football Foundation for funding.

But at the annual parish meeting last week, scores of residents expressed their concerns about the development.

At this week's parish council meeting, chairman Councillor Brian Anderson said aspects of the development would be reconsidered.

There will also be a site meeting with planning officials to discuss altering the position of the changing rooms, and the height and design of the security fence.

Members agreed to propose a 1.2-metre fence on the exposed part of the field, with a 900mm fence around the rest, instead of the original plans for a two-metre fence.

This will also be subject to approval by a risk assessment officer.

Coun Anderson said there would also be a public meeting to discuss the findings from the site meeting and other information on legal matters involving funding, which are being investigated by the borough council's solicitor. He said the date for the public meeting would be publicised in a newsletter.

"We are considering everything and we will be having a public meeting, but you have to understand that to go through this process takes time," he said.

"We have a process to go through in the hope, at the end of the day, of satisfying the planners and the objectors. We need to get the job done properly."

Coun Anderson will not tender for the building work on the playing field, and so will oversee the work if and when it starts.

Villager Margaret Petterson asked that she be informed of when the site meeting was to take place so she could attend.