Battle for Consett green belt land heats up

Dec 24 2009 by Neil McKay, The Journal

OPPONENTS of plans for a city academy and sports centre on green belt land hope to use a 45-year old document to scupper the plans.

Although people living in Consett, County Durham, welcome plans for a £26m academy and a £14m sports complex for their town, they do not agree with its proposed location.

Despite calls for the new buildings to be put on former steelworks land at Berry Edge, Durham County Council instead opted to build on Belle Vue in the town centre.

The proposals would involve the relocation of Consett Football Club – possibly to Crookhall – and the rugby club to Blackfyne. The council has set aside a further £2.7m to assist the clubs to relocate.

The 1,600-pupil academy is being built to replace secondary schools at Blackfyne and Moorside in the town.

Now one outspoken critic, Liberal Democrat county councillor Owen Temple, has unearthed deeds which he says could render the Belle Vue location unworkable.

He said: “On February 4, 1964, Consett Urban District Council declared Belle Vue to be Open Space, dedicated for the recreation of the Public or for Public Walks Parks and Pleasure Grounds. Unsurprisingly Consett District Council had the interests of Consett at heart. Those were the days.