A COUNCILLOR is pushing for a petition to be launched to gauge the public's view on plans to move Darlington's art gallery to a new venue.

Councillor Sheila Brown is angry at Darlington Borough Council's plans to convert the town's existing gallery at the town's library into a computer suite and convert the rates hall, in the town hall, into a display area for art exhibitions.

The computer suite is expected to be developed later this year, with the first art exhibition in the rates hall planned for October.

But Coun Brown said she has lived in the town all her life and believes that the gallery should remain at the library.

She said: "For some time the gallery area was used as a reading room and then was used for art and I have always been very fond of it, as are a lot of people in Darlington.

"I feel there are many people in Darlington who want to see the gallery stay at the library, and perhaps a petition placed in the library or the town hall will be able to gauge the public's feelings on this."

Darlington council was forced to look at the possibility of converting the existing gallery in the face of Government legislation setting out new standards for libraries and museums, with a need for computer access for all.

At a meeting of the council, councillor Dorothy Long, cabinet member for leisure, defended the decision to move the gallery.

She said: "I think the new gallery in the rates hall will be a huge asset to the town.

"The art gallery at the library will be a good venue for our new computer suite, because library staff will have IT skills that will be able to help the public using the facilities."