MIDDLETON St George is being urged to promote a land exchange with housing developers to get a large, new school.

Ward councillor Doris Jones floated the idea at a meeting of the Vital Villages parish plan committee, which aims to improve facilities.

She revealed that there was an application already on the table to build 68 homes on the former Hadley site next to the playing field.

But, she said, Darlington planners believed that was not enough homes to conform to recent Government guidelines.

"Apparently it won't satisfy John Prescott's plans for a brownfield site " she said.

Her proposal would involve a land exchange and demolishing the present school in Neasham Road in return for a modern building with off-road parking.

Earlier John England, the independent consultant brought in to help finalise the parish plan, said questionnaires returned by residents commented on overcrowding both at the school and the doctor's surgery.

He found it incredible that the local planning authority had not come to an agreement with the developers to make some substantial contribution towards village improvements.

"It is pretty standard planning practice these days. I would hope that if this current application goes ahead there will be some form of negotiation to bring benefits into Middleton St George."

Coun Jones said there had been small sums of money and some more would be released soon for computer equipment at the school.

"But the classrooms are too cramped and what we could do with is a purpose-built school with a car park.

"A land swap would be a way of getting a modern school without mega expense, and it would be right next to our playing field."

Mr England said the role of the village plan, which can open the door to major grants, was to highlight such issues and present them to the borough council.

There clearly could be overcrowding problems ahead and it might be possible to make the unitary authority feel guilty enough to find a solution.

Ron Dawson, committee chairman, agreed: "It is likely that so many new homes will mean more children living in the village."

The questionnaires had revealed seven priority areas: traffic calming, better play facilities for children, more activities for teenagers, improved car parking, problems with dog fouling, the community centre and its future and the village playing field.

The older sections of the village liked the good community spirit but thought there was too much new housing, extra traffic and parking problems.

New house owners thought the appearance of the entrances to the village could be improved and wanted more play facilities and social activities.