GREEN, recreational space within town centres is becoming an increasing rarity and we regret the prospect of Feethams being swallowed up by another housing estate in Darlington.

But we do not blame Darlington Cricket Club for planning to capitalise on its strong legal position so that it can invest in cricket facilities on the adjacent site.

Ideally, we would like to see the whole of the Feethams site preserved for community sport but it is hard to see how that could be turned into a financial reality.

We live in a commercial world. Money talks and it is therefore highly likely that the land will be sold to a housing developer unless Darlington Borough Council, as the planning authority, decides otherwise.

If a deal is done, Darlington Cricket Club will have the onerous responsibility of making sure that the millions are spent wisely.

The development of a centre of cricketing excellence, to groom young stars of the future, is an extremely worthy project and has our backing.

But our view has always been that there should be a more general investment in grass roots sport.

We welcome the cricket club's promise to include other sports in its investment plans and it is the strength of that commitment which has to be tested by the local authority in its forthcoming considerations.