HUNDREDS of parents and residents are expected to voice concern about plans for a £2.9m school in Darlington at a public meeting tonight.

The meeting is being held to discuss the possible relocation of Alderman Leach Primary School to a site in the West Park development at Faverdale.

Cockerton Area Action Group has called the meeting because of concerns among residents and parents about the existing school site and children's safety when walking to the new school.

David Regan, of Cable, a community organisation which is helping the action group, said: "The meeting is for any residents, future parents or whoever has a view on the relocation of Alderman Leach.

"It is to discuss what people are feeling about it.

"There are many people both for and against it, a lot of different views, and anyone is welcome to come."

He said more than a hundred people were expected to turn up at the meeting.

Earlier this month, the council unveiled plans for a building to replace the primary school, which will accommodate 315 pupils and 52 nursery children.

Pupil numbers at Alderman Leach Primary School have fallen from 488 in 1997 to 387 this year. There were 21 admissions this year to 75 places and there is an overall pupil shortfall of 107.

Darlington Borough Council intends the replacement school to serve Cockerton, Faverdale, Branksome and the new West Park estate.

But parents are concerned about pupils from Cockerton walking to school along the busy West Auckland Road.

Residents in Cockerton are worried about the current site of Alderman Leach, which could be redeveloped.

A council spokesman said: "As with any school, we will have to have a traffic plan, and there are plans in place for safe routes for children walking to school. It is unlikely children walking from Cockerton will have to use the West Auckland Road, as there will be routes through the new West Park estates for them to walk through.

"The falling pupil numbers at Alderman Leach show that parents don't want to send their children there because the building is old. They now have the opportunity for a new, 21st Century school with state-of-the-art facilities."

The spokesman said that a council survey showed 67 per cent of people were in favour of the new school, with 31 per cent against.

The public meeting is being held at 8pm in St Mary's Church Hall, on the Green, Cockerton. Anyone who cannot attend but who wants to register their views can contact the Cable office today, on (01325) 354084.