A BID by residents to safeguard a recreation site for future generations looks likely to fail.

Robert Heslop, of College View, Esh Winning, has applied to Durham County Council for land known as The Green, between College View and Esh Winning Primary School, to be registered as a village green.

If the bid succeeds, the land will be protected against future development.

In his application, Mr Heslop states that he has lived in College View since his birth in 1934, and used The Green for recreation since childhood.

He said it is still used by a large section of the community, including his family, for activities such as football, cricket, rounders, flying kites and walking dogs.

The application is supported by 16 questionnaires and 17 letters from other residents, as well as photographs and a video.

But Durham City Council, which owns the land, has objected to it. It says that by maintaining and managing the area, it has given residents implied permission to use it for leisure activities, which goes against the Government act for registering village green status.

A report by Andrew North, director of corporate and legal services for the county council, recommends that in light of this, the application should be refused.

It states: "The implied consent for the recreational use of the land means that the land has not been used 'as of right'. Although other elements of the definition have been proved, this fact means that the application land is not a town or village green."

Mr Heslop said that despite the report's findings, he hoped the council would decide in his favour when it met to discuss the application today.

"This is a safe environment for children and it's obviously still used," he said.

"It seems that every little bit of land is being swallowed up by housing, and this area should be preserved."

Lesley Blackie, Durham City Council's director of legal services, said the area had already been considered for possible sale, and would be considered again if the application was refused.

She said: "There's certainly a chance that a decision could be made to offer it for sale.