A RURAL councillor has written to Deputy Prime Minister John Prescott, calling for the abolition of the organisation charged with planning the development of the North-East.

Councillor John Shuttleworth, who represents Weardale on Durham County Council, is calling on Mr Prescott to disband the North East Assembly.

He described the organisation as an unelected quango which did not represent the views of the residents of his rural constituency.

The 72-member assembly, which is made up of representatives of the region's councils as well as people from the business and voluntary sector, was set up by the Government in 1999.

Among its roles is to draw up strategic planning guidelines for the region.

They cover how much housing can be built, where industrial development should be located and which transport links are a priority.

That role would have been handed to the proposed elected assembly, but following the region's overwhelming No vote in last year's referendum, the power will be retained by the existing unelected assembly.

Coun Shuttleworth said: "I am one of the vast majority of people who voted against an elected assembly and I don't see why this body should have a say in the future of Weardale.

"What right does this body have to decide what should be built in Weardale and what developments should take place?"

Last month, the assembly produced its draft plans - called View: Shaping The North - and has now launched a series of consultation events designed to refine the plan.

Malcolm Bowes, the assembly's assistant director, said: "Every region has a regional planning body and we are drawing up the strategy in an open and transparent way."