AMBITIOUS plans to raise £1million to build a community centre have been revealed.

John Hinds, secretary of The Grove Community and Residents Association, wants to create the facility on the old site of the previous building on Thornfield Road in The Grove, near Consett.

He said it could be used for youth clubs, training courses, meetings, surgeries and drop-in sessions.

Mr Hinds said: “We have got no facilities at all for young people, such as youth clubs or training sessions or whatever. It would be for all ages and create a bit of community cohesion. People like to have things in the locality and even travelling up to Consett is too far for some people.”

The land is owned by Durham County Council, and Mr Hinds hopes it could be used as it was previously the site of a community facility.

He said: “It was quite a small building but there is a plot of land adjacent to it, which will be more than big enough. We would make it Consett South Community hub so we could incorporate Moorside as well, because as far as I am aware they have got no community facilities either, so it would cover a bigger area.”

The project coincides with the 20th anniversary of the residents’ association, which was formed in May 1997.

Mr Hinds, who has been involved from the start, was originally elected a vice-chairman, but became secretary soon after. The association has been without funding for eight years and no longer has a public building to meet in. Communication is done using social media and internet, with Mr Hinds co-ordinating the work of the group from home in The Bye.

The association’s Facebook group has more than 230 members.

Gordon Elliot, head of partnership and community engagement, said: “We welcome any interest from the community in relation to the potential use of council assets or land for the benefit of local people. The Durham Ask, which seeks to empower communities to take control of the services and assets they most value, provides an opportunity for communities to put forward their ideas and access support.

“Any interested parties can submit an expression of interest to the council using the Durham Ask which will be carefully considered to assess the potential viability and value to the community.”