A PUBLIC inquiry will be held into controversial plans to use recreation land in Durham as a temporary car park.

The Sands, next to the River Wear, may have to serve as a replacement for spaces lost while the nearby Walkergate site is redeveloped.

The move has angered residents but now the Department for Environment Food and Rural Affairs (defra) has ordered an inquiry.

The land is owned by the city's Guild of Freemen and is thought to have rights of common over it.

The Walkergate scheme, devised by Durham City Council and developers Amec, will see a hotel, flats and bars built along with a new multi-storey car park. The derelict site has been used as a car park by the council for some years.

The council's new Liberal Democrat administration says it has been looking at possible alternative sites but that The Sands may still have to be used for about two years.

The inquiry has been ordered by defra minister Alun Michael to decide whether the car park scheme should be allowed.

The move has been welcomed by the city's Labour MP Gerry Steinberg, who is opposed to both The Sands proposal and Walkergate development.

Mr Steinberg said the inquiry would give residents a genuine opportunity to present their opinions and arguments before any permission is determined.

"There are clearly strong views held locally on what is a contentious application to use a green and open space as a temporary car park. The only way to ensure that these are fully and appropriately considered is via the forum of a public inquiry.''

Will Johnson, chairman of the Save our Sands group fighting the proposal, said: "Obviously it will delay things, which will put a spoke in the works for Amec and the city council as work on Walkergate was due to start in October. The inquiry will give the people of the city the chance to have their say.

"The Sands is one of the last green spaces in the city. It is a lung and an area of natural beauty and is used by local people."

City council leader Sue Pitts reiterated that the car park would be temporary and only take up part of The Sands. "The Walkergate development is really important to the city and the developers expect it to begin in January, by which time I hope we will have alternative car parking, otherwise the city is going to be in a mess."