PROPOSALS to create a new council have been shelved after the majority of residents voted against the idea.

People living in Pelton Fell, near Chester-le-Street, were asked whether they supported plans to form the new elected body, with the same powers as a parish council.

The proposals were initiated by Pelton Fell Community Partnership, which runs the Brockwell Centre in Craghead Road, Pelton Fell.

Last year, County Hall sent out 900 questionnaires to households asking them whether they wanted the change.

Of those, 110 responded within the six-week deadline, a small majority of whom backed up setting up a new community council.

The results showed 62 in favour of a parish council - equating to 6.87 per cent of households consulted - while 48 backed the status quo.

The outcome of the first consultation was deemed too finely balanced, so the county council agreed in January to a second round of consultations - with more details revealed about the proposed size and shape of the new authority.

Residents were told, if established, Durham County Council would have to set the new authority’s council tax precept, which was estimated could cost residents about £50 a year.

In the second stage of there were 160 responses, with 51 in favour and 109 against. This result was complicated by 133 further responses that were not on original forms and not returned in the envelopes provided and a complaint led to a rerun.

In the final round of voting, 110 opted for no change, while 94 backed setting up a community council, a 52.9 per cent vote for no change.

The results were taken back to the constitutional working group which recommended to a county council meeting this week that the governance arrangement in Pelton Fell remain unchanged.

Accepting the report, Cllr Alan Napier said: “It was too close a call the first time round.

“If you look at where we started and where we are now, the actual turnout has virtually doubled and I think that is because of the interest generated by the community partnership.

“It didn’t come out in their favour but it generated an interest in in democracy.

Cllr Carl Marshall added: “It was the right thing to do to go out again and allow the residents have more of a say in this.

“The results have show there’s been a lot of local discussion and there has been a clear steer of the direction they would like to see us go.”