PROPOSALS to create a new community council have been rejected after a consultation found residents were opposed to the idea.

Proposals to create a new council covering Pelton Fell, near Chester-le-Street, were rejected by a majority of the village’s 893 households.

Durham County Council carried out a review of local government in the village after receiving a petition from Pelton Fell Community Partnership calling for a new authority to be set up.

Supporters felt a parish council would help maintain local services and facilities.

In the final stage of consultation, more than half of households which responded thought local governance should remain unchanged and that just over one in ten supported setting up a new council.

Ros Layfield, Durham County Council’s committee, member and civic service manager, said: “Having taken into account the results of the consultation exercises, together with the guidance and statutory obligations, our final recommendation is that the current governance arrangements in Pelton Fell remain unchanged.”

The final stage of the Pelton Fell consultation attracted 204 responses, of which 110 were in favour of leaving local governance as it is.

Only 10.52 per cent of households were in favour of setting up a new council for the village.