A COMMUNITY leader has told of plans which he argues will transform the fortunes of a north Durham town next year.

The leader of Derwentside District Council, Alex Watson, said the year 2001 will see the "renaissance of Stanley" because of three major proposed developments.

He outlined proposals for a £50m to £100m leisure, housing and shopping project planned at King's Head Fields, a new multi-million pound swimming pool planned for the Louisa Centre, and a new bus station.

Councillor Watson said one company was "extremely interested" in the King's Head site, and said that the public would be consulted on the issue within the next six months.

He said that the council was expecting to know by April 2001 whether National Lottery money would be forthcoming for a new swimming pool.

The council will postpone any final decision on the bus station until the King's Head development plans become clear.

The authority has come under criticism in recent years, particularly over the swimming pool issue.

Campaigners in the town have argued that it should never have closed down the old Burns baths, on the site where the King's Head development would take place.

The authority has had three previous bids to secure cash from the Lottery rejected.

Coun Watson said that Consett and Stanley had both suffered in recent years because of the Metro Centre, which cost the towns about two-thirds of their trade when it first opened, but now he believes Stanley is on the verge of a renaissance.

He said: "We have a company which is extremely interested in the King's Head development, although I can't give details at this stage.

"Plans like this often change, but I am sure we will be going to the public to ask their views in the coming months.

"People tell me that it has taken a long time to get things done at Stanley. My answer to them is we must get this right. We won't rush into anything, but it seems our plans are finally coming together."

Maureen Storey, of Stanley Action Group Enterprise, welcomed the various developments, but said local people were keen to learn more precise details about what was proposed.

"From what we understand, there seems to be a lot of housing developments included in the plans," she said.

"We have so many new housing areas going up, yet we haven't got the town centre to cope.