THE use of an area of open grassland in Durham as a temporary car park has come another step closer.

City councillors have agreed to resurface a section of The Sands, alongside the River Wear, to provide 340-parking spaces.

But the council must now win the blessing of the Department of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) after a public inquiry, arranged as a result of the opposition to the development of common land.

The council plans to use up to 9,500-square metres of The Sands, with lighting and ticket machines, while the grass and soil is kept in 'cold storage' to be reinstated after no more than two years.

It is considered vital to the city economy as a temporary measure as work is due to start on the development of the nearby Walkergate site in April, leading to the loss of around 400 parking spaces.

Once the scheme is completed it will include a new 500-space multi-storey car park, allowing The Sands to return to grassland.

The proposals are opposed by local residents and by Durham's Labour MP Gerry Steinberg, who has criticised the ruling Liberal-Democrat leadership on the city council for failing to locate suitable alternative sites for parking.

Deputy city council leader Grenville Holland, said there were several 'safeguards' included in the plans.

Apart from the public inquiry now triggered, Coun Holland said it is hoped that a smaller proportion of The Sands will be required for car parking.

He added: "There is an absolute commitment by this council to restore any part of The Sands that is put to temporary use as a car park."

Colin Wilkes, managing director of Durham Indoor Markets, welcomed the council's decision.

"I'm delighted for the traders that we've got this initial approval and the prospect of a replacement car park.

"It's now a common land issue, whether we plan to have one or 400 cars parked there, and we'll have to go through an inquiry.

"I just hope Defra settle as quickly as possible as it's vital we get these parking spaces."

The city's mayor, Coun Ray Gibbon, said he believes the open land can be suitably returned to grassland, given successful similar restoration of a former temporary car park at Sniperley roundabout while work was on-going building the new University Hospital of North Durham.