County Durham sports plans being looked at again, council says

The current facilities at Chester-le-Street's Riverside Leisure Complex are due to be upgraded

Proposals for new sports facilities in County Durham are being revised, residents have been told.

Durham County Council has twice consulted on proposals for the Riverside Leisure Complex, Chester-le-Street, and Roseberry Playing Fields, in Pelton.

However, participants said there had been no update in a year and questioned the authority's commitment.

Now a council cabinet meeting has heard the authority is reviewing the schemes.

A 3G artificial grass pitch, improved athletics track and new multi-use court have been proposed for the Riverside Leisure Complex site.

Loss of 'green space'

However, speaking at the meeting, Alan Brown of the Riverside Residents' Association, described it as an "ill-thought-out proposal" that would see the loss of "valuable green community space" in order to create a "football hub".

He called on the council to offer assurance it would "give full respect to the views of residents", according to the Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS).

Councillor James Rowlandson said the Riverside proposals had reached a "well-developed stage", but acknowledged residents' consultations responses had included a mix of concerns.

The cabinet member for resources, investment and assets, added: "On the balance of feedback to date, any project taking forward at the Riverside needs to be considerate of wider opportunities of physical activity and community engagement, and target investment to drive the most benefits for the broad spectrum of the community."

The council added it was "keen to understand how to make best use" of the playing fields facilities at Roseberry, said the LDRS.