CALLS are being made for French company Lafarge and Government agency One NorthEast to reveal plans for a redundant cement works.

Disillusioned Weardale business people have formed an action group to bring jobs to the dale after the closure of the Lafarge UK's Blue Circle Cement works in Eastgate.

They want to allay fears that the site might be used for an incinerator plant.

Reports identifying alternative uses for the site are said to have ridiculed the area. Local business people want to see the site used for manufacturing, which they believe will maintain the infrastructure of the dale.

Among suggestions put forward by regeneration experts have been a Mr Bean theme park, bee-keeping and an Eco-Disneyland.

County councillor John Shuttleworth said local businessmen were now joining forces to demand action to revive the area's economy.

He said: "Due to the lack of progress with the Government agencies, including One NorthEast and its chairman Dr Bridge, the Weardale Action Forum has been set up."

The forum met for the first time last night in the Cross Keys Pub, in Eastgate, opposite the redundant site.

Coun Shuttleworth said: "We need jobs in the dales. All they have done is spend thousands upon thousands of pounds worth of taxpayers' money on useless reports without really consulting the people who live here.

"We have been talking about setting up this forum for about a month now. We have been forced down this route."

A spokesman for regeneration agency One NorthEast said that the organisation had made some progress in finding new jobs for the redundant workers at the Blue Circle plant.

He said: "We have made considerable progress in mapping out a future for the Dale.

"We had a huge consultation process in the Dales and we have listened closely to what the people want and one of the main findings is to use the site for renewable energy."

Read more about the Working For A Future campaign here.