A £1m investment could trigger a big shake-up of community and leisure facilities in the Wear Valley.

The Wear Valley Local Strategic Partnership (LSP) is being asked to fund key elements of a proposed strategy for the provision of community facilities.

The Wear Valley Sports Action Zone Partnership will urge the local strategic partnership to allocate money from the Neighbourhood Renewal Fund (NRF) to the scheme, when it meets on Monday.

Consultants appointed by the Sports Action Zone Partnership to find the best way of providing community facilities, made the following proposals:

* To provide an extended pool and sports hall at Wolsingham School and Community College for school and community use.

*l To replace Glenholme Leisure Complex and the Elite Hall, in Crook, with a modern extensive community facility with no pool.

* To develop facilities at Parkside Comprehensive School, in Willington, for school and community use.

* To replace facilities at Woodhouse Close Leisure Centre, St John's RC Comprehensive School, and Bishop Barrington School, with a shared centre and pool.

A working group has been formed to develop the proposals, and although no decision has been made or programme drawn up, Sport Action Zone manager Barbara Mills is hopeful that the idea will become a reality.

She said: "Part of the drive is to look for contributions from different partners to provide the best facilities.

"Everybody wants to achieve these aims, but it is a long-term plan and is still being explored.

"The partnership feels one way to start the process is to seek NRF money through the LSP, which would also be seen as a commitment to the principle."

Negotiations over the future of Wolsingham swimming pool reached stalemate earlier this year, when the district council withdrew its funding, although New Opportunities Funding is already secured for the hall.

The Elite Hall, in Crook, has already closed. A replacement, costing between £3.5m and £7.5m, could be built next to the Crook bypass.

It is hoped that enhancing the facilities at Parkside Comprehensive School would help it to gain specialist sports college status.

If the LSP agrees to allot £1m to the scheme, it would either go towards the centre at Crook or be shared between Parkside School and refurbishment of Woodhouse Close Leisure Centre.