COUNCIL bosses are to meet heritage campaigners to discuss concerns about a multi-million pound leisure centre renovation.

Darlington Civic Trust has written to Darlington Borough Council, expressing worries about proposals to alter the main entrance to the Dolphin Centre, in the town centre.

The organisation also has queries about plans to move a disabled access ramp onto the pavement outside.

The trust believes the alterations planned would leave the entrance looking bland and characterless.

It also says no other business would be allowed to extend a ramp onto a public highway.

They want the council to defer a decision until the public has had a chance to see what is involved.

A trust spokesman said designs for the entrance had been drawn up with no thought for the Horsemarket frontage, with similar features in Queen Street already looking dated.

He said: "The entrance to the centre was designed to disguise the large bulk of a recreation centre behind a frontage which gave the appearance of continuing the street scene in a conservation area.

"It was deliberately small and unobtrusive, reflecting the character of the former Dolphin Hotel which once stood there.

"We can see no valid reason for departing from this principle."

A council spokesman said officials would meet the Civic Trust to discuss its concerns, hopefully within the next fortnight.