DURHAM County Cricket Club is asking councillors to lift a potentially costly condition on its stadium expansion plans.

The club won permission in 2009 for a £45m redevelopment of the Riverside Ground at Chester-le-Street to boost its chances of continuing to host top fixtures such as Test matches.

The plans include new stands, a scoreboard, replay screen, function suite, parking and a 149- bed hotel.

The now-defunct Chester-le-Street District Council granted approval on condition the club signed a Section 106 Agreement to provide a park-and-ride scheme and shuttle buses to allay concerns about fans parking in nearby streets.

Councillors also stipulated that the club carry out a survey of links between the ground and the town centre and, if necessary, make improvements to them.

The club now wants this condition to be removed and Durham County Council’s county planning committee will be recommended to agree when it meets on Tuesday.

In a statement supporting the application, the club said: “In relation to the amendment to the Section 106 agreement, it is felt that the completion and implementation of a survey to improve links between the town centre is too vague and could be potentially very costly.

“Given the other mitigation measures in place and other planning approvals, it is considered that the development would not have a significant increase in the number of car trips to the site.”

Councillor for Chester-le- Street north and east, Beaty Bainbridge, is opposing the move.

She said people living in streets near the ground resented having their parking places taken by cricket fans on match days.