PROTESTORS fighting to save a North-East theatre and leisure centre from demolition have been given a glimmer of hope.

Hundreds of campaigners opposed to the demolition of Billingham Forum leisure centre and theatre attended a meeting of Stockton Borough Council to voice their anger at the planning application to replace the building with a 70,000 sq ft supermarket and car park.

Following a heated four-hour debate in which councillors heard the views of many objectors and some supporters, they narrowly agreed in principle to demolish the building.

However, the application has been referred to the Government for a final decision, and the council has said it will work with potential developers to save the theatre.

Councillor Alex Cunningham, the ward member for Billingham, said: "For far too long, the centre of Billingham has been neglected as other parts of the borough have seen massive investment and improvement.

"Today is the day when I hope we start to put that right and put this town back where it was in the 1960s and 1970s, a leader in shopping and leisure that will make the people of this town proud.

"This development does offer a substantial threat to our much-loved theatre, and it is the council's policy to work with potential developers to try to co-operate the theatre into the development.

"If it is not possible, I hope we can work with developers to see what can be done to address this loss.

"Today is Billingham's big chance, possibly the last chance for a generation, to see this level of investment and regeneration for the town centre."

Brian McCabe, the director of Billingham Ice Hockey Club, told the meeting the development would be a vast improvement on the facilities at present and would mean the club could hold major competitions, bringing business into the town.

He was supported by a few local residents, who said they believed the development would prevent their houses from being targeted by burglars and would stop the park from becoming a haven for vandals.

The committee again narrowly agreed the plans in principle, with an amendment that the car park would be on the Finchale Road side.

This development will also be passed to Government for a final decision.