RESIDENTS have delivered an overwhelming thumbs down to the suggestion an academy could be built on play and sports areas.

More than 200 people packed an urgently arranged public meeting at Belmont School, in Durham, on Tuesday night, to have their say on possible locations for the proposed new school.

After two hours of debate, almost all voted against building on land around Belmont Community Centre, which is currently home to cricket, football and basketball pitches, a bowling green and play areas.

To loud applause, resident John Everett said: “If those facilities are to be taken away at a stroke, I for one will be doing everything I possibly can to make sure it doesn’t happen and I hope everyone in this room will join with me in doing so.”

But many were also opposed to the alternative: the current Belmont School site.

Eric Robinson, from Carrville, said: “Is it fair that the children on this site have to put up with a building site during their education? Both sites are wrong.”

Durham County Council wants a new academy for 1,500 pupils aged 11 to 16 and 150 post-16 students and is consulting on building on one of the two plots.

Council official Yvonne Edwards said both had pros and cons.

The community centre area, known as Moor Field, is occupied by community facilities, whereas were the Belmont site chosen, construction traffic and safety would have to be considered, she said.

Resident Alan Milligan said: “I would go back to the council and say: ‘Neither of those sites are suitable’.”

There was also criticism of the council’s consultation. Ms Edwards said every response would be appended to the final report to the council’s decision-making cabinet.

A majority of people at the meeting backed a third option, not included in the council consultation, to build on land at Moor End, near the A1(M). Ms Edwards said this could be included in the final cabinet report.

The proposed academy would replace Belmont School and Durham Gilesgate Sports College and be co-sponsored by the council and a Durham University-led consortium.

The consultation closes on Friday, July 17. For more information visit: durham.gov.uk A decision on the location for the academy is expected within weeks.