VILLAGERS last night vowed to continue the fight to preserve some of the last few local green spaces, despite a council's plans to sell vacant plots.

Many people in Witton Gilbert, near Durham, are angry at city council proposals to sell six plots in the village, described as in-fill sites, for the development of up to 18 homes.

Money raised from the sale would go into a central fund to be used to pay for the long-awaited replacement swimming baths in the city centre.

Those villagers opposed to the scheme say money made in Witton Gilbert should be spent locally and are angry much of it will be used to pay for a flagship council project in the city centre.

But this week, the city council cabinet agreed to proceed with the plan to sell the vacant plots, in the Front Street area.

Council leader Fraser Reynolds, a Witton Gilbert ward member, said: "We have been campaigning for more than 30 years to bring this part of the village up to date.

"Not only will extra housing benefit our schools and shops, it will hopefully kickstart a regeneration scheme, which could benefit the whole area. We have taken on board residents' concerns and we would like to reassure them we will work with them, as well as future developers, to come up with a scheme to enhance the Front Street, which will be environmentally sensitive."

But residents' action group Save Our Space has vowed to maintain opposition to the land sales.

Group member Phil Williams said: "They claim to be keen to work with villagers, but that is the last thing they have done.

"We are against this on environmental grounds. It is likely to destroy green space and existing trees.

"Even County Durham villages should be allowed trees.

"We don't think the village environment can really stand much more development."

The group has written to Durham MP Roberta Blackman Woods, urging support for their cause, while also asking for background papers on the land sale issue from the city council under the Freedom of Information Act.

Anyone sharing their concern is invited to weekly meetings at the Glendenning Arms, in Witton Gilbert, on Tuesdays, at 8pm.