PLANS to revamp a park at the heart of a north Durham community are to be put before councillors.

South Moor Memorial Park in South Moor, near Stanley, will be dramatically improved if proposals receive their backing.

New play equipment will be installed, wildlife habitats will be upgraded and improvements will be made to the entrances and boundaries.

Durham County Council has applied to its planning department for permission for the project.

Members of the north area planning committee are due to discuss the scheme at the Civic Centre in Consett on Thursday.

Area planning officer Graham Blakey has written a report for councillors advising them to approve the scheme.

He said: “The aims of the proposals are to improve the appearance of the park and to increase the use of the park by the local community.

“The application needs to be determined by the committee as the application is classed as being major development due to the site area.”

The plan involves replacing the existing tennis courts with a floodlit multi use games area to give young people better play facilities and a skate park.

Mr Blakey added: “These facilities would not be sited near to existing residential properties and would not therefore result in a loss of amenity to residents.

“The provision of such facilities is to be welcomed improving recreational opportunities in the locality.”

The proposed works involves the renovation of most of the parks features and landscaping as well as the installation of new features such as information boards to enhance the overall appearance of the park.

No objections to the scheme have been submitted but the Environment Agency has asked for conditions to be imposed to protect wildlife.

It wants a land management plan to be created to ascertain the impact the planting of trees and hedges will have on existing habitats.

Mr Blakey said: “The proposals for the park are considered to benefit the appearance and character of the locality as well as increasing the attractiveness of the park to the local community and improving local facilities.

“The measures taken by the proposals to protect the biodiversity of the site as well as those outlined by the Environment Agency would ensure the site maintains its natural and ecological interests during and after the renovation works.”