A SCHOOL is to be demolished and a replacement built in its place in Teesside, despite residents' concerns.

Approval was given to demolish the existing Beech Grove Primary, to close Cromwell Road Primary and build a replacement school at the existing Beech Grove site, off Poplar Grove, South Bank.

About 125 people signed a petition for the new building to be on the site of the Cromwell Road school.

Residents near the site were concerned about the amount of traffic the school would generate with the extra pupils from Cromwell Road.

But councillors decided, at a planning meeting on Thursday, that Beech Grove was the most suitable site for the school.

The Cromwell Road School site was considered to be beyond its economic life and too small to provide the required playing fields. Five other options were thought to be unsuitable.

Ward Councillor Ian Jeffrey said he had a petition with 250 names supporting the Beech Grove site.

"The Cromwell Road site is in a rundown area and a new school would be in splendid isolation within it.

"We have to do what is best for the children and this site is the best for them.

"I just want to see this school up-and-running as soon as possible."