A CAMPAIGN to abolish Tees Valley and reclaim Teesside has met with a mixed response.

Teesside Together was launched today (Thursday) and while some council leaders have spoken publicly of their support for Tees Valley it has been a different story with members of the public.

The organisers of the campaign believe the area needs a clear identity as devolution moves ever closer in the region through the Government's Northern Powerhouse initiative.

They want the people in the area to have their say on any proposals that could affect them and have opened up an online poll to garner the public's feelings.

Councillor Sue Jeffrey, Labour leader of Redcar & Cleveland Borough Council, said: “In Redcar and Cleveland most people consider themselves to come first and foremost from the community, village or town in which they live – that’s what they care about and that’s what gives them their identity. Beyond that what we call ourselves matters far less than how we work together to bring prosperity to our area.

“Under the banner of the Tees Valley Combined Authority we have a strong partnership that is working for well for the five local authorities and our partners, it has already shown that it can deliver jobs and growth and I very much hope that our proposal for further devolution of powers from central government will bring even more benefits in the future.”

Councillor Christopher Akers-Belcher, the Leader of Hartlepool Council, added: “Following the abolition of Cleveland County Council in 1996 and the decision by the councils of Hartlepool, Darlington, Middlesbrough, Stockton-on-Tees and Redcar & Cleveland to work together in key areas such as economic growth, it was felt the name Tees Valley best reflected the five local authority areas.

“It has served us well over the years helping to attract significant investment and jobs and until someone comes forward with a better alternative we should stick with it.”

However, several readers have a completely different take on what the area should or should not be called.

One comment on The Northern Echo website comes from MSG, who wrote: "I am from Darlington. I am not from Teesside. Only the Tees Valley includes Darlington, Hartlepool & Redcar. I note it is people from Thornaby, Boro, Billingham & Stockton who want the name Teesside. I am not, and never will be, from Teesside.

"If Tees Valley has an elected mayor ( which I support ). His office better not be in Boro or it will be perceived as a Teesside takeover. Just as the North east regional assembly was rejected in the Tees Valley due to fears of a Geordie / Newcastle takeover."

While Craig1 wrote: "They're both ridiculous names, south of the river is Yorkshire, north of the river Durham, simple."

And Amelia May wrote: "There is no such place as the Tees Valley - it's just an expression that has grown."