A THIRD of a rundown north Durham park could be sold and turned into a centre for adults with learning difficulties.

Mistral Homes wants to buy almost two acres of View Lane Park, in Stanley, and invest £5m on a residential facility for 24 people.

If the plan goes ahead, Derwentside District Council said it would use the £600,000 from the developer to regenerate the remainder of the park.

It is currently blighted by underage drinking, drug taking and anti-social behaviour from young people.

The park is poorly lit, has no security cameras and has become a no-go zone for older people.

But at a public meeting, held at Shield Row Primary School on Thursday, and attended by 70 people, concerns were raised about whether the residents of the proposed centre would pose a risk to the community.

One woman, who did not wish to be identified, said: "People with these sorts of problems have to helped somewhere, but it should not be near a park where children are playing.

"The council should not sell off public land and should try to find the money to make the improvements from somewhere else."

The centre will be staffed 24 hours a day and residents will not be allowed out unsupervised.

It will create 120 jobs for care workers and managers, cooks, cleaning staff, specialist teachers and health workers

The council's executive director, Mike Clark, estimates it would cost £750,000 to regenerate all six acres of the park.

If the sale goes ahead, a £200,000 bowling green and pavilion will be developed and the existing ones will be demolished.

The council is drawing up a wish list from the local community to establish what it should spend the remaining £400,000 on.

Mr Clark said: "If this development does not go ahead we will not be able to fund these improvements until some other pot of cash comes along.

"It could be many years before the children in that area have a decent park to play in."

The council is currently seeking views over whether the land should be sold to the developer.

Any views on the development can be sent to Mike Clark, executive director, Derwentside District Council, Civic Centre, Medomsley Road, Consett, DH8 5JA.