RESIDENTS fighting for Stanley have offered their own plan to breathe new life into its town centre.

And their local council claims it is already working on a number of ideas presented by Stanley Action Group Enterprise (Sage).

In a letter to Derwentside District Council, Sage said it wanted to hold authority leader Alex Watson to his promise that there would be a "rebirth" of Stanley.

The group said it realised that the council hoped to raise capital from the stalled King's Head development - a plan to sell the King's Head field for leisure and housing schemes, and the sale of the bus station.

It also welcomed a £3.5m grant for a swimming pool, agreed by the National Lottery Sport England.

But the group hopes several smaller measures could be completed immediately to improve the town.

These include appointing a town centre manager, working with Durham County Council to formulate a town plan, cleaning up a number of eyesores like the main bus station and smaller bus station and toilets in Station Road, creating a park and play area in the town centre and directly reinvesting some of the £88,000 rent from the town's market back into the town.

Leading group member Jean Carleton said: "Time is running out for our town, perhaps the departure of a major store like Conroys, after 40 years, will be the catalyst for elected councillors to stand up and be counted."

The council's director for public services Mike Clark, said money had already been put aside for play areas. Cleansing of the bus station in Station Road would be monitored and Government money was to be allocated to improve transport.

Coun Watson said appointing a town centre manager would be considered and plans for a pilot town centre warden scheme could be developed.