A POLITICIAN has accused a council of betraying residents by refusing to revoke planning permission for a controversial development on a flood plain.

Hurworth Councillor Martin Swainston has called for Darlington Borough Council to "do what is right" and repeal outline permission granted for the Croft House development in Hurworth Place, near Darlington, in 2007.

Although it was not known at the time, the site in Tees Way is on a flood plain and was deemed a level three flooding risk - the highest category - by the Environment Agency in 2008.

Yuill Homes want to press ahead with plans to build two detached and 13 town houses, despite a five-year campaign from residents, who fear their homes will flood if the estate is built.

Coun Swainston said: "Throughout the entire process, officers at the council have assured us this development would not go ahead.

Now it looks as though it will.

There is a strong sense of betrayal among local residents.

"The council should revoke the planning permission and fight the developers in court."

Hurworth Place resident Susan Williams said houses on the development would be unable to get insurance. "The developers have refused to use the most up to date flood risk assessment and seem completely blase about the potentially devastating effect on houses that already exist, " she said.

"We are fighting to protect our homes, but everyone seems to be passing the buck."

North-East MEP Fiona Hall met concerned residents on Friday and promised to take up their case with the Government.

"In this case, the law is an ass, " she said. "The developer was granted planning permission on the old flood model and so is able to ignore the latest data which, under Environment Agency guidelines, shows there is a high probability of flooding each year.

"If the developer cannot be relied upon to do the right thing, we will have to press for a change in the law which forces them to."

A council spokeswoman said: "The reclassification by the Environment Agency of part of the land does not alter the fact that an appropriate decision to grant permission was taken, based on the evidence available at the time.

"The change in classification after that decision does not, in planning law, justify revocation of the permission."

Yuill Homes declined to comment.