LAND earmarked as green belt could be used as car parks for a park and ride scheme designed to reduce traffic congestion in the city of Durham.

Durham City Council and Durham County Council have identified sites on the outskirts of the city that could hold hundreds of cars each day.

The county council is expected to win Government approval later this month for a 400-space interchange at Carrville near the the A1(M) that would serve the east of the city.

Others sites have been identified, including two that are being proposed as green belt land.

They are at Sniperley Grove and Howlands Farm off South Road. Alternative sites in both areas have also been identified.

On Monday, Durham City Council's cabinet members will be recommended to hold talks with the county council about the sites and the scheme's development.

Corporate director of environmental services, Neil Smith, said the Sniperley Grove site was likely to prove "very contentious'', as residents have objected to a temporary car park created opposite the site for contractors working on the new Dryburn Hospital.

An alternative site, which has "significantly fewer environmental disbenefits'' would be the temporary car park for hospital staff and visitors near County Hall.

The land next to Howlands Farm, South Road, is screened by hedges, and could be developed without prejudicing the openness of the green belt, Mr Smith said.

A site opposite, in the Mount Oswald estate, could be used, providing it was developed sensitively.

Mr Smith said: "It is recommended that a full environmental assessment, including landscape evaluation, will need to be carried out for each of the options at Sniperley and South Road."

He adds that Sniperley Grove and Howlands Farm would have to be deleted from the green belt proposed in the draft local plan if they were chosen.

The scheme, allied to new parking restrictions, is designed to reduce the traffic clogging the centre of the city