A VILLAGE regularly affected by floods wants reassurances from Darlington council that it will be protected in future.

Neasham Parish Council was not amused to hear that fears that surface water from a proposed 28-acre business park at Morton Palms would aggravate its problems had been dismissed as alarmist.

The comment was made by Coun Frank Robson, chairman of the planning committee, which approved One North-East's plans. It was told a Hydrobrake, which held surface water before releasing it gradually, was included in the plans.

It is only three weeks since the village was yet again on a flood alert.

Coun Doris Jones, from Middleton St George, has written to Neasham urging it to get assurances that the business park would not make matters worse.

She told the D&S Times: "Another 80 houses are planned for Middleton St George and that surface water is going to go straight into the beck down to Neasham.

"Developers spend millions and millions of pounds in the town. Surely they can be asked to put their hands in their pockets to redirect the beck, preventing future flooding."

"I think Neasham, Middleton St George and Hurworth should band together with one voice to say enough is enough.

"Developers should be putting something into the area rather than taking away our farmland and leaving behind all the debris and floods."

She said the European Court of Human Rights advised local authorities to consider whether new developments could cause stress or distress to the people around it.

Coun Peter Foster told Monday's parish council meeting that he and Coun Jones hoped to organise a joint meeting of the three parish councils to discuss their next move.

He proposed inviting Mr John Buxton, Darlington's director of development and environment, and a representative from the Council for the Protection of Rural England, which opposed the Morton Palms venture.

"By asking for protection from floodwater now, you may have a case for compensation in future. It puts the onus on the council to do something and to do it well."

Coun John Weighell, chairman, agreed; "The development of the eastern side has compounded our problems. Neasham stell is a six-feet stream which turns into a 60ft river in times of heavy rain."

Parish council

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