RESIDENTS were celebrating as their campaign to preserve their village school on its existing site appeared to be nearing success.

It follows what looks set to be a u-turn by Durham County Council over plans to re-locate Esh Winning Primary School on an area locals consider to be the village green.

Despite villagers’ objections, the council’s cabinet agreed plans to rebuild the school on the green, off Woodlands Road, in the centre of Esh Winning, in March.

But, confirmation of a Big Lottery funding grant of £50,000, secured by Esh Winning Residents’ Group towards the cost of playground equipment for the site, appears to have swayed the council.

Other sources of funding have been attracted to meet the shortfall towards the expected overall cost of between £75,000 and £80,000.

A condition of the Big Lottery awards body states that the play area must be completed on the site by September 2010 or the funding will be withdrawn.

An application has also been made to have the green space registered with official ‘village green’ designation, which would prevent development on the site.

The council’s cabinet is now to be asked to reconsider the decision and is recommended to agree to the school re-development on the existing site, at The Wynds.

A report to next Wednesday’s cabinet meeting states that while the original decision was, "logical and appropriate" at the time, the plans for the new play area mean the choice of site ought to be reviewed.

The report adds that the revised decision would "maximise" use of all suitable land in the village, providing improved education and leisure facilities.

Councillor Claire Vasey, the cabinet member for children and young people’s services, said: "The new plans for a play area mean the situation has changed from when the original decision was made regarding the location of the new Esh Winning Primary School.

"In these circumstances it’s only right and proper that we look again at the original decision in terms of any impact it may have on the plans for the additional community facilities which are proposed."

Andrew Rice, who has spearheaded the residents’ group campaign, heralded the news as, "a victory for common sense".

"It’s absolutely fantastic. I spoke to several parents at the school at home time and they’re all ecstatic.

"If the village green application is successful then we’ve secured it for centuries to come for public use, while the current school site is perfectly adequate for the re-development."

Both Durham’s Labour MP, Roberta Blackman-Woods, and her forthcoming Liberal Democrat parliamentary opponent, Carol Woods, welcomed the announcement.