THE group behind plans for a town’s new leisure centre said progress is being made after a council agreed to consult over a possible change of site.

Crook Community Leisure had originally wanted to build the new centre at Croft Avenue in the town, but, after discussions with Durham County Council, are now looking at the authority-owned Peases West running track.

The group, who secured £500,000 from the Elite Hall fund, would incorporate the existing changing block into a larger centre complete with gym with the running track and football pitch unaffected.

Durham County Council has now agreed to consult with members of the Three Towns Area Action Partnership forum to see whether they would favour the new site.

Crook Community Leisure, which was formed by members of Crook Community partnership and Spectrum Leisure, was allocated the funding left over from the cancelled refurbishment of the Elite by a public vote in February last year.

The group were told they had to start work within a year, but the project has been hit by delays caused in part by problems with the Croft Avenue site.

Crook County councillor and group member Eddie Murphy said: “We are seeing some good progress now with Peases West a much more suitable place for the centre that will really benefit the people of Crook.”

He said subject to planning approval work should have started on the new centre by the summer.

The council’s sport and leisure manage Nigel Dodds supported using Peases West and said the intention would be for the community group to work with Crook Town Football Club and the Athletics Club to run the sports centre.

Gordon Elliott, head of partnerships and community engagement at the council, said: “While developing the scheme, the partnership now feel the facility would be better located on the Peases West site in the town as it would give the opportunity to link both indoor and outdoor sports and by doing so, have a better chance of raising more funding to provide advanced facilities for the town.”

Crook Community Leisure said they would look to create a swimming pool at the Peases West site in a future phase of development.

The council will be contacting the 1,600 forum members over the next few weeks to gather their views.