Durham Police plan to sell off the former police station on Bede Kirk, in Barnard Castle, and its adjoining land to the Railway Housing Association to build sheltered accommodation for the elderly.
Sophie Ebeling and David Stacey were so enraged by the move that they decided to launch a petition. As of Monday, they had gathered more than 70 signatures.
Ms Ebeling said: “We just went around one evening and people were quite happy to open their doors and chat to us. We just feel it’s dodgy. The council seems to do it all the time – they are filling in all the green spaces. We just don’t think it would be very good or appropriate for the neighbourhood. We need green spaces otherwise the neighbourhood cannot breathe.”
Bede Kirk was home to a medieval chapel until 1959 when it was demolished.
The police station was built on the site in the late 1970s with the adjoining green enjoyed by dog walkers and children in the decades since.
The message Ms Ebeling got from dale folk around Bede Kirk was that they believe Durham County Council had made up its mind about the housing proposal before the plans had been submitted.
She said: “It’s all about money and profit with the police station – they need the money to fund their new station which people are not happy about.
“And the housing association wants to make the maximum amount of profit – that’s what we don’t like.
“There is an inertia and a thought you cannot do anything anyway because they’re so powerful – we’ve heard the words ‘done deal’ a number of times on doorsteps.”
Barnard Castle Town Council has put a bid in to list the 1.36 acre site as village green.
But that may not be enough to halt plans being submitted for the £3.2million housing scheme. The campaigning pair, who live on Cleveland Road, wanted a “proper consultation” carried out to try to save the green.
Mr Stacey added: “The police are selling the land to the housing association which is building houses for the council which is then overseen by the council’s own planning department. It’s their game, their ball and their rules – that’s why people feel hopeless.”
The Railway Housing Association said it would be carrying out a full consultation with residents before any plans were submitted.
The charity's spokesman added: “We are keen to reassure local residents that this development will be very much in keeping with the area and the homes will be built to a high standard. The design will be sympathetic to the surroundings and we will maintain the ecological values of the site.
“We intend to keep as many of the trees and as much green space as possible. If any trees have to be removed then new ones will be planted.
“The police station has been closed for some time now and we are proposing to replace this old, rundown, empty building with attractive new housing for rent. There is considerable need for this type of housing in the town.”
Stuart Timmiss, head of planning and assets at the county council, said: “As part of the planning process we will take on board and consider all views and concerns when coming to a decision. As we have yet to receive an application it would be premature to comment further.”
Meanwhile, Mr Stacey and Ms Ebeling have looked into the history of the site and want to see if it had been gifted to the town at any point. Petitions can be signed at Woodleigh, on Scar Top, Hayloft Emporium, on Horsemarket, the Teesdale Mercury Shop, on Market Place and Wilson’s on Market Place.
For more information, contact Ms Ebeling on 01833 631074.
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