VILLAGERS have reached a compromise over controversial plans to upgrade a children’s play park, allowing work on the £46,000 revamp to begin.

Some residents of Waldridge, near Chester-le-Street, were angry at Durham County Council plans to upgrade the village play area, claiming a zip wire and large slides would attract teenagers and lead to more anti-social behaviour.

A petition was circulated and residents made their case to the county council and repeatedly to Waldridge Parish Council.

A showdown was expected at a parish council meeting on Tuesday night.

However, council officials dropped plans for certain play equipment, allowing the majority of villagers to back the proposals.

Brenda Wright, who had led the opposition, said: "We’ve come to a compromise. I’m quite happy.

"It was the bigger kids we had a problem with. I don’t mind the smaller swings because there are small children in the village. I’m pleased with it."

The upgrade is part of County Durham’s phase two of the government’s Playbuilder scheme, which will see £603,000 spent creating new play areas or improving existing ones at 13 sites throughout the county.

Eleven play areas benefited from the £600,000 phase one, in 2009.

The first four to benefit in phase two will be: Hilltop Park, in Quarrington Hill; Newfield, near Bishop Auckland; Hedley Houses, at Waterhouses; and Waldridge.

Nigel Dodds, an area leisure manager at the county council, said: "We believe it is important that children and young people have somewhere safe and exciting to play.

"That’s why we worked so hard to secure the £1.2m of funding through the government’s Playbuilder scheme so that we can provide new or improved play areas across County Durham.

"The refurbishment of the play area at Waldridge village is part of this scheme. We worked closely with the parish council and community to develop acceptable proposals for the site and we are delighted that children and young people will now have fantastic play facilities to enjoy for many years to come."

Work began at Waldridge this morning, just hours after the compromise deal was agreed.

The coalition axed the £235m Playbuilder programme last summer. However, some schemes will go ahead, with contributions from other sources including Groundwork, county councillors, Area Action Partnerships, town and parish councillors and community groups.