PLANS to turn a public open space near Durham city centre into a temporary car park has provoked a storm of protest from residents.

Angry exchanges took place on The Sands common land yesterday, when one of Durham's hereditary Free-men came face to face with residents protesting against the threatened loss of the green space.

The Durham City Guild of Freemen has owned the land since medieval times and agreed to allow Durham City Council to use 40 per cent of the area for car parking for up to two years.

It will be used while the Walkergate site is built nearby, where another temporary car park currently stands. It will include a hotel, apartments, restaurants and multi-storey car park.

But the move has split the city between traders, who say they cannot afford to lose the temporary car park's 380 spaces, and residents who fear the grassed area could be lost forever once filled in.

Yesterday morning, residents armed themselves with Save Our Sands placards and gathered for a demonstration on the threatened land, which had to be moved when one of the Freemen objected.

Residents say The Sands is important to people who use the area for recreation.

Jane Walker, from Ferens Park, regularly takes her children to the riverside area. She said: "This is going to be right on top of a residential area. If this goes there will be nowhere for children to go."

Protestors also claimed the Freeman of the City would receive 50 per cent of the revenue from the car park.

However, Philip Wills, clerk and receiver to the City of Durham Freeman, said he had not received details of the financial arrangement, but said: "It is compensation for what is a loss of rights and for temporary use of the site, which in any business venture is what you would expect.

It has not been done for financial gain. The Freemen are committed to the retention of green space and are actually looking to increase the amount when the car park is up and running."

He said they had been concerned about the impact a loss of parking would have on traders. Durham City Council said there would be full consultation with residents.