PLANS to create a town council for Stanley moved a step forward yesterday when campaigners delivered a 3,000-name petition to a district authority.

North Durham MP Kevan Jones and the Stanley Town Council Steering Group want to separate the town's affairs from neighbouring Consett.

They think Consett benefits more from the council tax people pay and have submitted the petition calling for the creation of a town council.

Mr Jones said he wanted to go further and abolish Derwentside District Council and create separate authorities for Consett and Stanley.

Council leader Councillor Alex Watson said Stanley was welcome to a town council, but that it would not change anything and would cost £500,000 a year to run.

The campaign started in October when Stanley residents held a public meeting in the town's Lamplight Arts Centre and won the backing of their MP.

Mr Jones said: "A town council will give the people of Stanley a voice, and they are simply being ignored by Derwentside District Council in favour of Consett.

"Consett is getting a better deal because more and more executive members are looking after their back yard.

"Frankly, people are very angry about this and I do not blame them."

Coun Watson hit back by urging people to look at the development of Stanley town centre, where a £4.2m environmentally friendly bus station is being built.

He said there were also plans to revamp Front Street and build a new health centre in the town centre.

Coun Watson said a new council would create more bureaucracy and would only control things such as grass cutting, park and cemetery management and street lighting.

He said: "It will just mean more councillors, more bureaucracy and an increase in council tax. If the people of Stanley want that, then they are welcome to it."

The council is about to begin a three-month consultation period with people in Stanley to ascertain public feeling on the matter before passing the results to the Government, which will decide whether to allow the creation of the town council.