Sir, – The five councils, Darlington, Stockton, Middlesbrough, Hartlepool and Redcar and Cleveland, are to press ahead with the formation of a combined authority on the strength of a 65 per cent majority of the 1,900 people who responded to the public consultation on the idea. Such is democracy.

The Now & Then magazine in its latest edition asked for votes from readers for and against the idea of using Durham Tees Valley Airport land for housing. There have been over 2,000 votes so far and more are still coming in. More than 92 per cent voted against the housing. See the following link http://saveourairport.co.uk.

The Middleton St George Community Association recently obtained more than 1,000 signatures within a week opposing the development of 269 more houses in the village. It is preparing a Neighbourhood Plan and the opposition to more housing would have included the airport land but for strong objections from Peel, the airport's owners whom the association felt to be too powerful to take on.

If a 65 per cent majority of 1,900 respondents is enough to proceed to form a combined regional authority then on the strength of this overwhelming public reaction against more housing around Middleton St George and on the airport land in particular there should be total ban on such proposals.

Stockton and Darlington councils are preparing their revised Local Development Framework Plans at this moment and have the opportunity to make this a firm policy. They and the other councils are shareholders in the airport and should use what influence they have to prevent this obviously unpopular proposal for housing on the airport land from proceeding any further.

SUZANNE FOSTER

Potto, Northallerton.