RESIDENTS have met ward councillors and senior officers after expressing concerns at the redevelopment of a former school site.

Neighbours to new public rented homes being built on the former Springfield Primary School, in Darlington, say there has been a number of lapses during the building process.

Plans to build homes, including flats, semi-detached and terraced houses, were given permission last April.

It followed the closure of the school four years earlier and its subsequent demolition.

However, residents have since contacted their ward councillors unhappy about how the work has progressed.

Councillor Nick Wallis said: "We had two meetings with residents, which included a site visit with town hall officers.

"A number of issues were raised, including the way in which the houses have been reconfigured, the lack of contact with residents since the open evening where residents were broadly happy with the plans, and the way in which a substantial amount of hedging and apparently-healthy trees are being taken down by contractors.

"We are very concerned about what appears to be a series of lapses, and the fact that a number of people in the area do not feel their views were considered when the final plans were drawn up - something the consultation event at The Education Village was supposed to prevent.

"It is a matter of regret that that we are no closer to hearing why town hall records indicate that local people, and ourselves as ward councillors, were contacted about the proposed changes, but documents were not in the main received. This is an issue that will probably have to be dealt with by the council's complaints procedure."

He said the council was seeking to erect a 2.1 metre high fence around the northern perimeter of the site.

A Darlington Borough Council spokeswoman said: "A n original application for planning permission was submitted by the developers and residents were consulted.

"During the course of this application, the plans were amended. A second consultation period was undertaken and residents should have been notified by post of the amended plans.

"While the letters were sent, it appears they were not received by a number of residents.

"We are aware of the concerns of residents and are currently undertaking an investigation of this matter with the mail distributors."