MORE than 400 people have signed an online petition calling for the speedy construction of a new campus.

But they received a body blow yesterday when Durham County Council announced that a judicial review of the £26m Consett Academy project will not be heard until April – sparking fears of delays in the start of building work.

Parents whose children attend the newly formed Consett Academy, local footballers and Pat Glass MP are all urging Durham County Council to build the campus on Belle Vue as soon as possible.

But the council’s plans, are being held up by a legal challenge from the Consett Green Spaces Group.

The group has successfully sought a judicial review in a bid to have part of the proposed site of the new campus designated a village green, therefore preventing any development on it.

And yesterday Coun Claire Vasey, Durham County Council’s Cabinet member for children and young people’s services, said: “We have been informed that the judicial review will not take place until April.

“We are extremely disappointed that the scheme is being delayed but, along with the lead sponsor, New College, Durham, we remain focused on completing the new academy building as early as possible to bring forward the further educational benefits this will offer.

“We are also delighted that the county council has been able to initiate and take forward a project that will bring much needed investment into the town.

“Early design work has commenced to ensure that rapid progress on the provision of an academy can be made once the judicial review has been concluded. It is hoped that this will allow work to start on-site without further delays.”

The Green Spaces group, which is backed by former Derwentside District Council leader Alex Watson, claim building the academy on Belle Vue, the site of the soon-to-be demolished civic centre and the ground of Consett football club, would lead to a loss of green spaces and cause extra traffic problems.

They say the former steel works at Berry Edge would have been a more suitable location for the 700-student academy, which will have a sports centre next door. Meanwhile, children, staff and parents at the new academy – formed by the merger of schools in Blackfyne and Moorside – have been left in limbo.

They fear legal challenges will delay the building of the new campus past the planned 2014 deadline, meaning they will have to continue to operate on a split site.

But Christine Thomas, a mother-of-three whose eldest son is due to start at the academy in September, and who helped to organise the petition, said: “Can I suggest that people take a look at the comments posted by the true people of Consett who are in despair that a minority of people are actively hindering the progress of the town.

“It is time to stand together to fight and ensure these facilities go ahead.”

Signatories include players and officials of Consett Football Club.

Should the academy go ahead at Belle Vue then Durham County Council has promised them a new all-weather stadium at nearby Crookhall.

A typical comment on the petition came from Tom Jones, who wrote: “I am extremely disappointed with the delay in providing a better future for my grandchildren and the community of Consett as a whole.”

To see the petition go to http://bit.ly/consett