VILLAGERS fighting to save an open space from a housing developer have attacked a local environmental group.

Residents of Blackfyne, Consett, claim Groundwork West Durham will benefit from plans to build houses on the Blue Heaps.

Derwentside College has sold the Heaps to developer Strathmore Holdings, of Med-omsley, and plans for 13 executive houses have been submitted.

Staff and volunteers at Groundwork have been working for the past nine years to improve the site and have installed seats, footpaths, steps and signs.

Yesterday, it emerged that the group is in line for the contract to manage what is left of the site, if the proposals go through.

Protestor Greg Coltman, of West Promenade, Blackfyne, said: "Groundwork had a full plan for the area to beautify it, including putting in wheelchair access.

"Now, it looks like they are going to get more money for doing a bit of touch-up work to what is left after the houses are up. They should be condemning this, but they won't do it because they will lose business."

Residents have used the three-acre grassland as an amenity and short-cut to Consett town centre for at least half a century.

Julie Form, of Groundwork, said it could not pass comment on the planning application because it was a political issue.

She confirmed the group had made plans to turn the Heaps into a conservation area, but said some of the features were still included in the developer's proposals.

"We do stand to make money if the developer asks us to manage the site, but we would have been looking for grants to carry out that work anyway," she said.

"We would never want to restrict economic regeneration, but would try to tug the environmental conscience of the developer."

James Johnston, director of Strathmore Homes, said the plans would include two footpaths, wheelchair access to Consett Park and a woodland management scheme.

"Enhancing the surrounding landscape is a prime consideration of our plans," he said.

"We are confident that the council and the residents will appreciate the result."

Residents have applied for the site to be registered as a village green, which would prohibit future development.

A planning application for the scheme is expected to come before Derwentside District Council on October 10.