A £78m leisure transformation programme is moving forward with final designs to come for three centres.

The plans range from refurbishments to new-build leisure centres and are intended to help regeneration, Covid recovery and people's health.

The latest information on the plans is to go before the Durham County Council's environment and sustainable communities scrutiny committee on Monday, March 28.

Final design work will now be carried out for Abbey, Peterlee, Spennymoor and Teesdale leisure centres.

They will be refurbished with facilities like fitness and wellbeing suites, exercise studios, cafes, soft play and better changing facilities, along with other upgrades and improvements.

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Peterlee will add ten pin bowling and "cyber towers" while Spennymoor will bring in the library and improved water play.

Improvement projects will start in the next year, and a report will be presented to council leaders in the cabinet soon.

Designs are being looked at again after public comments, and it was decided to add sauna and steam to Abbey following consultation.

New leisure centres are to be built in Bishop Auckland and Chester-le-Street, with six-week consultations to come.

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A second phase of consultations is covering these and refurbishments to the Louisa Centre in Stanley, Riverside in Chester-Le-Street and Meadowfield and Newton Aycliffe leisure centres.

Two new pitches, resurfacing and essential athletics track works are planned at Riverside, with a "large-scale play centre" and adventure activities at Louisa.

More refurbishments are either completed, such as the athletics track at Shildon and essential maintenance at Wolsingham, with further plans like reinstating the pool at Consett.

Several improvements at Shildon, Wolsingham and Freeman's Quay centres are to be finalised.

Sites and options for Seaham will be considered by the council cabinet.

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A four-week consultation in October to November last year led to almost 45,000 website visits and more than 300 people discussing the proposals in face-to-face sessions and focus groups, and 421 people responded to a digital survey.

The council's report says: "Overall, the response to the digital survey and the responses across the other engagement channels suggest an overriding positivity towards the planned investments.

"The feedback received suggests that each project should proceed as planned, given the overall support of residents.

"Where there is feedback noting any minor points, this will be considered in the final stages of design work.

"Those users and clubs directly affected by the proposals will continue to be engaged.

"Where appropriate mitigating arrangements will be explored further."