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, could have to serve as a replacement for spaces lost while the nearby Walkergate site is redeveloped.

The move has angered residents in the area 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.

The Walkergate scheme, devised by Durham City Council and developers Amec, will see a hotel, flats and bars built along with a multi-storey car park.

The derelict site has been used as a car park by the council for some years.

The council's Liberal Democrat administration said it has been looking at possible alternative sites but said that The Sands may still have to be used for approximately 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 opposes both the The Sands plan and Walkergate development.

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

He said: "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: "It is good news from our point of view.

"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 instead of being railroaded by the council.

"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.

"It would be environmental vandalism for someone to tear it up and put in a car park, even if it was only temporary.''

City council leader Sue Pitts could not be contacted for comment.