Charity slams locals for opposing football centre

A charity has criticised local residents after plans for a football centre were rejected.

The Russell Foster Sports Foundation (RFSF) had planned to build 20 football pitches in Leamside, but Durham County Council rejected the scheme because of its location on green belt land.

David Armstrong said locals should be ashamed after the planning inspectorate dismissed the charity's appeal.

MP Mary Kelly Foy hailed the decision a "big victory" for those who had opposed the "inappropriate" proposal.

"The indoor facilities would have been invaluable to the youngsters, as well as providing community facilities that are lacking in the area," said Mr Armstrong.

"Shame on you, Leamside residents, for opposing this development - and shame on Durham County Council for not supporting the application in the first place."

The foundation had proposed building a mix of indoor and outdoor pitches at the current site of Leamside Equestrian, off Pithouse Lane, near Houghton-le-Spring.

But the council refused the plans due to a lack of public transport in the area and the site's location on green belt land.

There were also concerns that rogue footballs might cause a hazard to motorists on the A1, according to the Local Democracy Reporting Service.

RFSF said the organisation’s five outdoor sites, including one in Newbottle, Sunderland, were often impacted by bad weather.

It was argued that the Leamside facility would have provided the opportunity for year-round indoor matches.

Ms Foy, Labour MP for the City of Durham, said: "I was clear from the moment this application was submitted that I would welcome Russell Foster into the constituency, but that such a development would have to be in the right place.

"Sadly, my attempts to start a conversation on a more appropriate site were not responded to.

"It was obvious that a 20-pitch football facility was simply not sustainable and would have had a huge impact on the small community in Leamside."

Follow BBC Sunderland on X (formerly Twitter), Facebook and Instagram. Send your story ideas to [email protected].