Spending spree on the cards

The town council has drawn up the list from surveys and appraisals that have been carried out over the last five years. It is estimated that the cost would be about £6m.

The list includes the development of a £1.5m Ferryhill Football Academy and the provision of new town centre public toilets at £125,000.

Other schemes being considered include improving allotment sites, pedestrianising the town centre and developing a clubhouse and changing facilities at Mainsforth Cricket Ground.

New changing rooms for the King George V Recreation Ground, environmental improvements in Dean Bank and the appointment of a development officer to implement the schemes are also on the list.

The town council has identified grants that would bring in about £3m, leaving the authority to find £3m.

Jamie Corrigan, the council's executive officer, said: "One of the ways for us to generate this money would be to sell off some land. At the moment the only land that is being under-used is the allotments."

Mr Corrigan said Ferryhill has almost one allotment per ten adults, one of the highest rates in the country.

Just over 400 plots are managed by the town council and many of those are used for other purposes, such as grazing horses. He said the council was considering selling surplus allotment sites to help to fund the plans.

But he said: "Allotment holders on those sites would be given compensation and relocated to a fully cultivated new garden.

"Any of their materials and sheds would be removed for them as well and we see this as affecting no more than 50 people at the very most.

"If we do that, then the likelihood is that we could implement most, if not all, of the projects on that list."

He stressed no decision would be taken without consulting residents and said a questionnaire on the wish list and the allotments sale plan would be circulated.

He added: "This isn't a decision, it's something we want to consult as many people as possible on."