SPORTS fields linked to a former school should be sold, a former county councillor has said.

Dennis Southwell was speaking after it was confirmed the playing fields attached to the former Durham Free School, on Bradford Crescent, Gilesgate, would be protected for sporting use.

The buildings, which have been disused since the school closed after just 18 months last Easter and Durham Gilesgate Youth and Community Association closed at Christmas, are to be demolished and the land put up for sale, probably for housing.

Durham City Labour MP Roberta Blackman-Woods and Belmont county councillors Patrick Conway, Bill Moir and Katie Corrigan welcomed the protection of the playing fields.

However Mr Southwell, who is chair of Belmont Parish Council but was speaking in a personal capacity, said the fields should be sold and the money given to Durham Sixth Form Centre, where he is chair of governors.

The Bradford Crescent site was previously home, until summer 2013, to Durham Gilesgate Sports College, which was linked to the Sixth Form.

Mr Southwell, a Liberal Democrat, said traffic should not be sent through a new housing estate to reach the playing fields, there were other play facilities nearby and a new community centre would never be built on the site. He dismissed the Labour county councillors’ comments as “absolute nonsense”.

Demolition is expected to start on site on or around Tuesday, March 1, an order having been granted by Durham County Council.

Dr Blackman-Woods and the county councillors have encouraged residents to tell them what they want built on the site, which belongs to the county council.