A DECISION will be made tomorrow about the construction of a modern sports centre in north Durham.

Shotley Bridge and Benfield Tennis Club has secured £800,000 of national and local funding to build a modern leisure centre in Benfield Close, Shotley Bridge, near Consett.

The club wants to demolish its existing building and build a single-storey clubhouse with a bar and function room. The club will have four floodlit tennis courts and a five-a-side football and basketball hall.

But neighbours say the development could lead to a rise in anti-social behaviour from local youths, and traffic congestion.

A petition containing 38 names has been sent to Derwentside District Council. A spokesman for the opposition campaigners said: "The tennis club attracts rowdy teenagers who congregate, drink and sniff glue and this causes a disturbance to residents.

"The proposals will lead to increased traffic on a residential estate.

"The proposed floodlighting will mean that the tennis courts are used much later at night, until 10pm in the summer months, and as such the noise and disturbance will be a problem."

The club's head coach, Phil Atess, said he hoped the new club would reduce, not increase, disturbances because it would give young people something positive to do.

People will not need to pay membership fees and will be able to simply hire the courts or hall when they want to play.

Mr Atess hopes local tennis talent like 23-year-old Daniel Kiernan, third in the country at doubles, will encourage young people to take up the sport.

He said: "We want to integrate them and give them a sense of ownership.

"They will not have the opportunity to hide away in the dark areas and drink because it will be floodlit.

"This will bring huge benefits in the social scale for youths in the area and give them a healthy lifestyle."

As well as tennis, people will be to play football, basketball, badminton, join aerobics and karate classes. Church groups and chess clubs will also be able hold meetings in the function room.

Derwentside District Council development control committee is being advised to approve the plans.

If approved, the centre will be complete by December.