THE Government has given approval for the controversial use of part of The Sands in Durham as a car park.

The recreation land, common land owned by the city council, is needed to house 195 spaces that will be lost while the nearby Walkergate car park is redeveloped by Amec.

Residents objected and a public inquiry was held by the Department for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs under the Law of Property Act to see if the plan would benefit the neighbourhood.

The council said the parking spaces were essential to the city centre but residents said it would disturb those near the site, would restrict access and that parking spaces were available elsewhere.

Inspector David Tester said that he would have recommended against approving the original proposal to put about 345 spaces on The Sands because the wider benefits would have been outweighed by problems it would cause in the neighbourhood.

But the revised scheme, splitting parking between a smaller area of The Sands and the nearby former Post Office site, was acceptable.

It would have an 'adverse impact on its recreational use by local residents for a time' but residents overlooking the common would not be disturbed.

Reducing the shortfall in parking and easing congestion when Walkergate starts 'would also be to the benefit' of the local economy and the community as a whole.

"I conclude that, in the short term, the council's need for this reduced area of land for parking outweighs the benefits to the neighbourhood that the common land provides."

Council leader Sue Pitts said: "Work has started on the old Post Office site that will have half the provision. But not one blade of grass will be touched on The Sands until we know Amec are ready to start because the permission is only for two years."

But David Williams, secretary of the Save Our Sands action group, said it was taking legal advice on the possibility of seeking a judicial review of the decision.

He said the group was 'disappointed' at the decision and felt insufficient weight had been given to some of its arguments.

"We have three months to make our application for a review and we would not expect the council to start work before then."

The Walkergate scheme is expected to start in November. Flats, a multi-storey car park, hotel, bars and restaurants will be built.