THE charity behind a “once in a lifetime” scheme to create a £24m visitor attraction near a struggling market town will discover its fate today.

Last night, key political figures in Bishop Auckland penned a joint letter urging Durham County Council’s planning committee to approve The Eleven Arches project when it meets at County Hall in Durham City.

Planning officers have recommended the scheme for refusal but its supporters, including the 16 town and county councillors behind the letter, are adamant it should go ahead, describing the benefits as “immeasurable”.

A Facebook page called We Support the Eleven Arches, meanwhile, has been liked by more than 1,300 people.

The scheme would see the Eleven Arches Trust create a historic visitor attraction at Flatts Farm, a former golf course in Toronto on the outskirts of Bishop Auckland.

A night-time sound and light spectacular celebrating 2,000 years of British history through the eyes of the North-East would be at the centre, with shows taking place across 30 nights between May and September.

Inspired by Puy du Fou, a similar and internationally renowned project in France, it is part of a £90m charitable enterprise based around Auckland Castle and is expected to attract up to 180,000 visitors a year.

In the letter, which is also signed by former Bishop Auckland MP Lord Foster, the supporters say the Trust’s plans will act as a catalyst for the regeneration of the town and wider region.

“The entire package of activities and developments are intricately linked and inter-dependent and will collectively help establish Bishop Auckland as a visitor and tourist attraction of national and international significance.

“The benefits this will achieve for County Durham, for Bishop Auckland and importantly for local residents are immeasurable.”

They add: “Bishop Auckland remains an area dogged by economic problems, of unemployment and aspects of social and economic deprivation.

“This project will directly create jobs, training, enterprise and volunteering opportunities not just within the castle but also in the town as a whole.”

Bishop Auckland resident Tim Scott, who set up the Facebook page, shares these views and has described the scheme as a “once in a lifetime opportunity”.

Planning officers have cited “an unacceptable level of noise disturbance” and potential impact on the bat population as key reasons for rejecting the plans.

Bishop Auckland MP Helen Goodman said the committee had a difficult decision to make.

“Obviously the night shows would be a great boost to tourism in Bishop Auckland and would offer fantastic opportunities for young people,” she said. “However, the noise issues are serious for those people living nearby.”

The letter writers include: county councillors Rob Yorke, Andy Turner, Heather Smith, Christine Wilson, Pat Lawton, Joy Allen, Charlie Kay, John Lethbridge, June Lee, Barbara Armstrong and Ian Geldard; Bishop Auckland town councillors David Wilson, Anne Golightly (deputy mayor), Jamie Blackburn, Lee Brownson (mayor) and David Fleming; and Lord Foster, former MP for Bishop Auckland.