Billingham Forum is to be demolished to make way for a supermarket, councillors decided last night.

The leisure centre, which was opened by the Queen in 1967, will be knocked down as part of redevelopment plans for the town.

A new sports and leisure complex will be built on John Whitehead Park, opposite the Forum.

The move comes after consultants SQW/BBP carried out an extensive public consultation exercise into the redevelopment of the town centre last year on behalf of the Billingham Regeneration Partnership Board. They recommended:-

l A supermarket be built on the site of the Forum;

lDevelopment of a sport and leisure complex on John Whitehead Park opposite the Forum;

l New education, arts and community facilities;

l Rationalisation of shops and improvements to shop frontages within the centre;

l Improved car parking.

Last night, Stockton Borough Council, which owns the site, held a full council meeting where it was agreed to support the proposals.

However, it is unlikely that any development will start for three to four years and the Forum will continue to offer leisure and sporting facilities in the meantime.

Further cabinet meetings of the council are to be held to discuss and propose funding strategies for the redevelopment.

It is hoped funding can be won from regional development agency One NorthEast, the European Regional Development Fund, English Partnerships and private finance.

The chance to create a brighter town centre has been welcomed by residents, but plans to get rid of the Forum, which includes the theatre, an ice rink, a swimming pool and sports halls, have been met with protests.

A number of residents fear the promise to replace the theatre with a new venue may come to nothing.

It is proposed the new building should have moveable seating for up to 1,200 people so the venue can be used for conferences and concerts