A PROJECT to help keep young people off the streets is essential for the development and reputation of the north side of Darlington, a council meeting was told.

North Road residents have frequently complained of anti- social behaviour in the community, and young people have said there are not enough after-school activities to keep them occupied.

While initiatives have been set up in other parts of town, claims are often made from North Road that it is being overlooked.

Residents have recently started a petition to try to ensure that the derelict Harrowgate Hill Infant School building is used as a community facility, and have applied to English Heritage for support in saving the building from demolition.

At a full meeting of Darlington Borough Council, North Road councillors called for more youth provision, and said the equivalent of the Branksome West Side project was needed.

The project was started by the now-defunct police StreetSafe team last year, and held a series of Friday night events for youngsters in Branksome School.

Hundreds of children attended the events, which included raves, driving theory lessons and Army training sessions.

Councillor Fred Lawton called for a North Side project to be created in their community.

"The West Side project appears to have been very successful, and North Road is one place where such an initiative could be extremely effective in helping to control anti-social behaviour," he said.

"Unfortunately, we have nothing like that at present. We have asked that Harrowgate Hill school be given over to community use, and would call for support in resources being given to the north side of town."

Councillor Bill Dixon, council deputy leader, said although it was a good idea in theory, it might not necessarily work.

"It would be silly to presume that one size fits all across the town with these projects," he said.

"I don't think we should run away with the idea that a youth club here or there will make any difference in a few years' time.

"We should be flexible about what we do in each community - that might not be the same in North Road as it is in Firthmoor, or in the West Side project."