A COUNCIL claims opposition to a proposed seafront re-development could jeopardise the chances of bringing millions of pounds of investment to Redcar.

The row centres on the sale of land for housing, to pay for a new swimming pool and leisure centre.

Councillor Vera Moody, Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council's cabinet member for economic development, said: "We are not building a seaside housing estate, we are building a fantastic future for Redcar and the borough.

"Of course, there is work to do on our side of the funding. The housing will only start if the funding is in place for the leisure centre and swimming pool. If we don't have that funding, we won't start the first phase of housing.

"But we see no reason at all to be pessimistic about this scheme.

" What we are continually despondent about is the non-stop aggravation from protestors, who are always selective about how they interpret the information we are providing."

Protest campaign leader, resident and comedian Chris McGlade said the scheme was all "pie in the sky'' and described Coun Moody's comments as the reaction of a scared council.

He said: "I am astounded, really. They want to be printing the truth that they don't have a penny in funding. Not even the money from Persimmon Homes is guaranteed.

"The only thing guaranteed them is they can borrow £3m on this scheme, but they don't have any money for a leisure centre or extreme sport centre.

"The money they are going to raise from Persimmon Homes and the £3m they can borrow, will all be taken up setting up the plan itself.''

He is raising a petition aimed at securing a vote of no confidence in the council.

He needs to collect more than 5,000 names to register the censure, which he hopes will lead to an elected mayor.