HOME Secretary David Blunkett has been personally asked to intervene in a controversial bid by the probation service to build a bail hostel in a town centre.

New MP for Durham North, Kevan Jones, has written to Mr Blunkett outlining his concerns at the plan for a bail hostel in the centre of his constituency town of Chester-le-Street.

He has criticised County Durham Probation Service for not consulting with the public properly before appealing against a Chester-le-Street District Council decision to reject the plans. A public inquiry into the application is due to conclude on Thursday.

In his letter, Mr Jones said: "I view with great concern the fact that the Durham Probation Service has undertaken no meaningful public consultation along the lines recommended in the guidance note from the Home Office. There is an active local residents' group, which the probation service has refused to meet and to my knowledge they have not held any public meetings to justify their actions or persuade people of the need for a bail hostel in Chester-le-Street.

"The Durham Probation Service is now engaged in an expensive appeal against the refusal of the planning permission and local people are quite rightly angry that their public money is being used for this inquiry.

"Can I appeal for you to intervene in this case, as clearly the Durham Probation Service is not following the Home Office's Best Practice Guide and is causing a great deal of anger and annoyance because of the high-handed attitude taken towards my constituents."

A public statement by Durham Probation Service said a bail hostel was needed because one did not exist in the county.

It said: "The County Durham service has an excellent performance record and has developed positive working relationships with local partners in the context of crime and disorder strategies."