COUNCILLORS will meet next week to discuss controversial plans to create housing on the site of Shotley Bridge Cricket Club.

The proposals have been submitted to build 25 detached houses and two 30 apartment blocks on land where former England captain Paul Collingwood learned the game.

The scheme includes creating a new clubhouse and pitch, practice nets and the restoration of the Spa Well on the site between the River Derwent and A694 road.

But it has attracted opposition from people who fear the impact it will have on wildlife, including bats, birds, otters and badgers, in the area.

The outline application, from the club and Anvil Homes, is to be discussed by members of Durham County’s Council’s planning committee at County Hall in Durham on Tuesday at 2pm.

In statement to planners, the applicants said: “Benefits include the construction of much needed facilities for the cricket club as well as significant additional environmental benefits through the management of the adjacent grassland and woodland.

“The current facilities at the existing club are too small, wholly inadequate and do not meet the English Cricket Boards guidelines or the Disability Discrimination Act.

“This has resulted in the club having to curtail their activities and cap the number of new members.”

The site lies within the Shotley Bridge Conservation Area which was first

designated in 1975 and reviewed in 2009 when the now defunct Derwentside District Council voted that it was ‘minded’ to approve the scheme, despite advice from planners to the contrary.

The council has received 487 letters of support for the plan and 140 letters of objection as well as a petition in opposition signed by 439 people.

Planning case officer Andrew Farnie has recommended the plan for refusal.

He said: “Any public benefit in the scheme does not outweigh the irreplaceable loss of ancient woodland and the harm it would cause to legally protected species and their habitat.”