Proposals for better sports facilities in County Durham are being revised, residents have been told, amid concerns they have been scrapped. 

Durham County Council first consulted the public in 2022 on proposals to improve outdoor the provision at the Riverside Leisure Complex, Chester-le-Street, and Roseberry Playing Fields, Pelton. 

But despite a second consultation ending in January 2023 residents say there has been no update from the council and questioned the local authority’s commitment to its plans. 

Alan Brown, speaking on behalf of the Riverside Residents’ Association, asked a cabinet meeting for a progress update.

He said: “The residents of Chester-le-Street are still awaiting the outcome of a re-consultation on the Riverside and Roseberry sites, which took place well over a year ago. 

“Can they assure us that they will give full respect to the views of residents, and that the ill-thought-out proposal relating to the overdevelopment of the Riverside by turfing up valuable green community space and creating a football hub will not be going ahead?”

Proposed improvements to the Riverside include a double 3G artificial grass pitch, an improved athletics track, and to create a new multi-use court. At Roseberry, the council said it was “keen to understand how to make best use of the Roseberry playing fields facilities”.

While Cllr James Rowlandson said the Riverside proposals have reached a “well-developed stage”, he admitted that locals responded with various concerns. 

It means the council is now reviewing how it will deliver the changes at the Chester-le-Street site.

The cabinet member for Resources, Investment and Assets, said: “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 also revealed it will continue to manage the Riverside for the foreseeable future. 

Cllr Rowlandson added: “This changes the context from the previous plans and proposals that were consulted on, which were largely based upon self-financing developments at the site. 

“Given this change in emphasis, it will be necessary to continue to manage the Riverside in its current format for the time being. The council can then proceed to explore subsequent opportunities with stakeholders to develop the wider site.”

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It comes as the council also revealed previous plans for a brand new lesiure centre on the site of the former Civic Centre in Chester-le-Street are unlikely.  

Speaking after the meeting, Alan Brown said residents still haven’t had any formal feedback on the consultations they took part in. And local councillors have admitted they were surprised to read the council’s comments after not being informed of the progress. 

Labour’s Alison Batey, whose Pelton division covers Roseberry Playing Fields, said: “We haven’t had any response and I’m really disappointed that we weren’t informed before it was read out in public.”

For Mr Brown, he added that people just want to see value for money and an improved leisure offering. “We want first class facilities and not second hand what nobody wants, which is what we have got at the moment,” he said.