CONTROVERSIAL proposals to move a landmark statue have been backed by planning officials.

Durham County Council officers urged councillors to support the scheme to move the Lord Londonderry Statue across Durham Market Place in a report prepared for a meeting next week.

Senior planning official Andrew Inch acknowledged there was “significant public opposition” to the proposals, but said they fitted with planning guidelines and that the weight of opposition was not of sufficient concern to justify going against them.

The plans, from regeneration group Durham City Vision as part of the £5.25m Heart of the City project, have attracted widespread anger, with 6,000 people signing a protest petition and more than 4,500 joining a Facebook group opposed to the move.

Dr Douglas Pocock, secretary of the Durham City Trust conservation group, said he was surprised at Mr Inch’s recommendation and urged councillors to think extremely carefully on “the most important and far-reaching application to come before the city in decades”.

He said: “I am saddened at the dismissal of the widespread objections, not just from the general public, but also from all the experts.”

He hopes to address councillors at the meeting next week.

The statue, which features the Third Marquis of Londonderry on horseback, has been in the market place since 1861.

It was removed for repair and renovation in London last week.

If approved, the statue would move only 26 metres, but opponents say it would radically change the market place.

The Neptune statue would also be moved across the market place, with new granite seats, artworks and paving installed, and nearby alleys improved.

Proposals to build glazed screens on Claypath Bridge have been dropped.

Clare James, the project manager for Durham City Vision, said it was an exciting and vital project that would make Durham City a better place to live, work and visit.

Durham County Council’s planning committee will debate the scheme in County Hall from 2pm on Tuesday.