BUSINESSES are urging councillors to rethink plans that will result in the demolition of their buildings.

Derwentside District Council has submitted final plans for the redevelopment of Stanley's bus station.

Under the £1.45m scheme the present bus station, which is on the A693 town centre bypass, will be replaced with a structure on the nearby Mary Street car park.

The proposals also include demolishing 84 to 88 Front Street, in an atte;mpt to improve pedestrian access to the retail centre of the former mining town and make it more attractive to shoppers.

The businesses affected include William Hill bookmakers, NS Bennett estate agents and Rob Craig's tattoo parlour.

All three have written letters objecting to the plans.

Building owners William Hill and NS Bennett face losing their properties if the council uses compulsory purchase orders.

Fiona Clarke, senior planning officer for Derwentside, said: "Only narrow alleys connect the bus station with Front Street.

"These are unattractive and shoppers feel vulnerable using them.

"The demolition of the buildings forms an important and integral part of the scheme.

"It is required to facilitate the link through to the town centre, which is an essential part of the scheme."

The new bus station will include public toilets, a kiosk, travel office and taxi office.

Mrs Clarke said: "The existing bus station was erected in the early seventies. It is unsightly and has suffered from significant levels of vandalism over recent years.

"The council have been working in partnership with Durham County Council and Stanley Town Centre Regeneration Partnership for some time to develop a scheme for this site, which is seen as an essential step towards the regeneration of Stanley."

The council aims to partly fund the scheme by marketing the old bus station, a three-acre site, for redevelopment for retail or leisure, with some car parking. But the old station will continue to run buses while the new one is being built, meaning the loss of 54 spaces in Mary Street car park.

The district council has commissioned a study into car parking problems in Stanley and its executive will discuss the issue later this month.

The bus station application will be decided at a meeting in Consett Civic Centre on Thursday, at 2pm.