A POTENTIAL £100m development which community leaders hoped would herald the rebirth of a town, looks to have come to nothing.

Leader of Derwentside District, Councillor Alex Watson, said it had decided to "take a step back" from the King's Head Fields development in Stanley.

At one time, the council revealed a property developer wanted the site, just outside the town centre, for shops, entertainment and housing. But the developer withdrew and attempts to attract smaller-scale developments have come to nothing.

This week, the council discussed a new blueprint for the town, although it has not yet been made public.

Meanwhile Stanley Action Group Enterprise (Sage) has started a policy of focusing on small-scale issues in order to get the town tidied up.

The group staged a protest at a semi-derelict bus station in Station Road, which they want the council to tear down.

Coun Watson said the council had decided to put its plans for the King's Head site on hold, but there were still other achievable plans for the town.

He said: "We have decided to take a step back from this development, although it is still available for potential investors. Our report is a new blueprint and is very realistic and more short term, not a ten-year programme or anything.

"We are looking at the main bus station for a start and, of course, we have already secured the means for a £4.5m swimming pool. The new plan is identifying potential areas of reinvestment."

Coun Watson also pointed to Durham County Council plans for a new library in Front Street and investment from Government-backed child and parent support group Sure Start as encouraging signs for the town.

He agreed that eyesores like the bus station in Station Road should be cleaned up.

He said: "Areas of historic use that are not now used by the public, like that bus station, can become eyesores and we have to look at that."