THE former chairman of Cleveland Police Authority has been suspended by the Labour Party for opposing plans to demolish 1,500 homes.

Councillor Ken Walker, who represents Gresham on Middlesbrough Council, has been barred from the party for three months after continually challenging the authority's decision to demolish homes in his ward.

His immediate suspension from the Labour Party was ratified at a behind-closed-doors meeting on Monday, although he can appeal against the decision.

His opposition to the demolition plans once more pitted Coun Walker against Middlesbrough Mayor Ray Mallon. The two were adversaries during the long-running Operation Lancet inquiry, when Mr Mallon was head of Middlesbrough CID and Coun Walker headed Cleveland Police Authority.

The pair crossed swords when the then-Detective Superintendent Mallon sacrificed a four-year crusade to clear his name in February 2002 to become the town's first elected mayor.

Coun Walker publicly accused Mr Mallon of prolonging the multi-million pound inquiry into allegations of police misconduct, when Mr Mallon admitted 14 disciplinary charges.

At the time, Coun Walker accused Mr Mallon of overwhelming arrogance, but the former detective won an overwhelming public mandate as mayor.

After Mr Mallon's landslide election as mayor, the Labour group voted Coun Walker out as their leader.

He then lost his position as chairman of Cleveland Police Authority in May last year when, during a secret ballot, council colleagues did not nominate him for a position on the authority.

Now the rivals are pitted against each other once more over plans to demolish hundreds of homes as part of an urban renewal programme.

Mr Mallon has argued that radical action, including mass demolition, must be taken if Middlesbrough is not to become a ghost town.

Coun Walker has vehemently protested about the plans which he says will decimate a multi-racial neighbourhood if bulldozers are sent in.

He has written to Prime Minister Tony Blair and Deputy Prime Minister John Prescott, inviting them to visit the area and block the plans.

Coun John McPartland, the secretary of Middlesbrough Council's Labour Group, declined to confirm or discuss the suspension when The Northern Echo contacted him yesterday.

He said: "We have no comment to make. It is a private matter within the Labour Party group."

Residents are condemning the decision and accuse the Labour group of trying to stifle open political debate.

Gresham campaigner Eddie Johnson said: "I think it is the absolute right of any councillor to represent the people in his ward.

"He has done a tremendous job of making this an issue for the local residents and he has shown his whole-hearted support for us.

"He has realised that one of the worst things that can happen to a person is to have his home taken away - that is what we are fighting for."

Both Coun Walker and Mr Mallon were unavailable for comment last night