Angry Hartburn residents hit out after plans revealed to turn suburban house into children's home

Stockton Council buy house in Hartburn for troubled youngsters with emotional needs, which will be managed by Scottish company Spark of Genius

By Abi Wing

Angry residents have hit out after plans were revealed to turn a suburban house into a residential children’s home.

Stockton Borough Council have bought 118 Darlington Road, in Hartburn, for troubled youngsters with emotional needs, which will be managed by Scottish company Spark of Genius.

Residents living nearby have formed an action group called Hartburn Residents to oppose the decision.

In a newsletter sent to people living in the area it was claimed the council has entered into a 50/50 limited liability partnership with the company. It said the authority intended to equally share the profits with the management company.

This week residents gathered at the Parkwood Hotel to discuss the council’s decision, with many showing concerns claiming it had been done “under the radar”.

Ed Jones, heading the meeting, lives next door and was shocked when he received an anonymous letter saying that the house was to be used as a children’s home.

He said: “I think it’s the way the council have gone about doing it, absolutely no communication. The lady we live next door to, she’s 86 and they didn’t have the decency to knock on her door to speak to her about it. I find the arrogance of them doing that is sickening and it’s tax payers’ money.”

There were protests in Thorpe Thewles for a children’s home last year and planning permission was granted. Another one in Wolviston fell through when the property was taken off the market.

Mr Jones, 33, said: “If the council had acted in a more transparent way maybe they wouldn’t have so many annoyed people.”

Rob Howe, a Hartburn resident said: “Most of these people here do not want this on this doorstep, it’s not about the kids. It’s about the deceit and the lies.”

But another said: “There has always been children, many of them with difficulties, living in Hartburn Lodge. It is reasonable; the council weren’t lying.”

Nobody was available from Stockton Council to comment but Hartburn ward councillor Terry Laing said: “Looking after children is part of our responsibility but I can understand why people are angry about it. It’s the cloud of secrecy and the council not being open and transparent.”

A meeting will be held next week, on Thursday, April 24, at 6.30pm at Holy Trinity Rosehill CE Primary School with councillors and representatives from Spark of Genius will be attending.