PROPOSALS for a community and sports centre have overcome the first hurdle after trustees secured a grant for a feasibility study.

The changing rooms on the Shildon Scout Memorial Field, West Shildon, are only used once a fortnight and are repeatedly vandalised.

In spring 2005, drunk vandals damaged the football field, which only returned to use in May.

Last winter, the roof was blown off, which was replaced in spring when other minor repairs were carried out and the building was cleaned and painted. The proposal is for a flood-lit football pitch, all weather five-a-side pitch, a drop-in centre and indoor play area. There are only toilets and changing rooms for men, so the proposal includes changing rooms for women.

It is hoped that increased use of the centre will deter vandals and anti-social behaviour.

Lesley Rowley, a former Scout leader and the secretary of the Memorial Field, said: "It is only early days at the moment but, hopefully, this will be the first step towards building a new facility for the wider community, not just the Scouts."

The feasibility study will also look into refurbishing the changing rooms and extending the building to provide the indoor playing area.

"The field doesn't belong to the Scouts, but it is currently used by them during the summer months for outdoor activities," said Mrs Rowley. "With the refurbishment, the Scouts could use it all year round along with a number of other users."

The field was bought in 1955 "for the children of Shildon" by the Nicholson's, of Vaux Breweries, and was once in regular use for football, carnivals, scouting activities and whippet racing.

By the mid-Nineties, most of these activities had ceased, but it is still used by New Shildon All Saints Scout group.

Sedgefield Borough Council's area forum approved a payment of £4,113 to the trustees from its Local Improvement Programme, subject to cabinet approval.