A DETAILED report has been published into how a run-down County Durham town centre can be regenerated.

The three directors of Derwentside District Council have made a number of recommendations to improve Stanley and have said £250,000 should be made available for development.

The report acknowledges that the authority and other groups have suffered "a large degree of criticism from the community about perceived inaction".

The latest in a line of documents about the town, which will be considered by the council's executive committee next week, recommends that £150,000 should be spent on the town's View Lane Park, £100,000 on improving the general environment of Stanley, the appointment of a town centre manager and the newly established Stanley Joint Steering Group be officially recognised.

Other ideas in the report include trying to alleviate the costs of the lease to the now- abandoned Tommy Armstrong Centre building, redeveloping Stanley bus station and reconsidering the possibility of developing the King's Head playing fields after plans for a £1m development were shelved.

Other suggestions include proposals by Durham County Council's director of arts libraries and museums to promote the town's cultural heritage in order to attract visitors, road improvements, especially to Royal Road, and encouraging retail development on Clifford Road.

The report comes after prolonged criticism from the Stanley Action Group Enterprise and the area's MP, Kevan Jones.

Derwentside council is to organise a public meeting in the town.

In the report, Mike Clark, director of public services, who co-wrote it with Alan Hodgson, director of com- munity development, and Keith Robinson, director of resources, said the council needed more effective communication with the Stanley public."

He added that there was a need for discussion with people living in Stanley, who currently believe that there was little investment in, or concern about, the future of the town.

Mr Clark said: "It will be necessary to produce Press notices clearly outlining for the community of Stanley and Derwentside the council's approach to the improve- ment of one of its two major towns."

The report will be discussed at Consett Civic Centre on Monday, at 4pm