Plans for a prisoner reform centre in County Durham are to be reviewed by the Justice Secretary.
The Ministry of Justice is proposing to turn Highfield House in Consett into a 16-bed hostel which will provide accommodation for convicted offenders who have been released on licence.
If approved, the facility would become home to high risk former prisoners such as sex offenders.
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North West Durham MP Richard Holden has been fighting against the proposals for the hostel on Parliament Street after receiving complaints from residents and community groups.
He has now held a meeting with Justice Secretary Brandon Lewis who has agreed to review the plans.
He said: "It is very concerning that the Highfield House site in Consett is even being proposed by the MoJ. It is completely inappropriate and placed amongst the sites of children’s community groups.
“Quite rightly, my North West Durham constituents, including voluntary organisations like the Scout Groups and Army Cadets, have got in touch and expressed their concern with the siting of such a facility so close to them.
"This is why I raised these concerns once again in the House of Commons – and got a meeting with the Secretary of State that same day.
"The Justice Secretary was very understanding and alive to my concerns and what I want to see now is sense prevail and I’ll keep campaigning until it’s sorted."
The proposals are part of the MoJ's plans to increase the number of approved premises to provide bed spaces supporting the prison reform programme.
Under the plans, the former probation contact centre would accommodate 18 residents and include a communal area, laundry, kitchen and storage area.
The bedrooms would be formed as part of a two-storey extension, while the existing building will be mainly used for staff offices and storage.
A number of objections have been lodged with Durham County Council, with the vice-principal of the Delta Independent School branding the application a "safeguarding risk"
The objection states: "I find it astonishing that this proposal is even being considered. The planning application does not even state that there is a school nearby, never mind on the same street.
"We have not been the YMCA for a number of years now and have been a registered independent school for over six years, so I cannot see how this information has been omitted from the planning application.
"We have a number of vulnerable students who attend our school, so placing a number of convicted criminals on our doorstep is a huge safeguarding risk."
In a letter of objection, the Constance Street Allotment group wrote it has "grave concerns" about the risks the facility would have for members who access their site which includes families, children, elderly and vulnerable people.
The Ministry of Justice declined to comment.
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