Serving Teesside (From Darlington and Stockton Times)

Serving Teesside

1:35pm Friday 7th March 2008 in Letters

Sir, - I was extremely pleased when Greg Clark MP was formally announced as the Conservative's shadow minister for Teesside last month, not just because it gives local Conservatives a direct line to the top of the party, but also because he has championed a cause that is close to my own heart.

About two years ago, Greg sponsored a Bill to change the planning guidelines and put an end to "garden grabbing" developments.

This was necessary because Labour amended the planning guidelines in 2000, classifying our gardens as though they are equivalent to former industrial sites.

This has made it far too easy for developers to knock down detached properties and build high density blocks of flats in their place. Across Stockton, Eaglescliffe, Yarm and Thornaby, it has caused heartache for local people as the communities in which we have grown up go under the bulldozer.

I am confident that, with Greg in place and the efforts local communities have made to highlight this issue, we will see real change.

The Conservatives have already pledged that on coming into government we will quickly change the rules and re balance our planning system to favour local communities once again.

I look forward to working with Greg to make this pledge a reality.

JAMES WHARTON Conservative Parliamentary candidate for Stockton South