COUNCILLORS will consider a land deal aimed at creating a site for a new community centre in Ingleby Barwick when they meet next week.

Stockton Borough Council and Ingleby Barwick Town Council have been drawing up plans for a new centre with youth café on The Rings but do not yet have an agreed site for it.

A proposal to secure a site from the developer Persimmon will go before Stockton Council’s cabinet on Thursday (December 4).

Stockton Council leader, Councillor Bob Cook, said: “Ingleby Barwick is a thriving town with a growing population and with it, growing demand for community facilities and services. The existing community centre at Beckfields is heavily used, which is why plans for a new one are being drawn up.

“The area originally allocated for a new community centre was along Barwick Green Lane but over time it has become clear that it isn’t the ideal location. The proposal is that we assist by acquiring an alternative site south of Barwick Lane in exchange for an equivalent area of land nearby.

“We would then transfer the land to Ingleby Barwick Town Council to enable a community centre to be built there, subject to the Town Council gaining planning permission and raising the funds to build it of course. Cabinet will also be asked to make up to £50,000 available for the provision of a youth café within the proposed community centre.”

The meeting takes place at 4.30pm in Thursday in Stockton Central library.