IT has always been a long-running dispute as to how the land known as Coatham Common and Majuba Road car park, Redcar, was to be developed.

This dispute can now, hopefully, be resolved to the satisfaction of all concerned by approving proposals to be submitted by the newly-formed charity, Red Carpet Development (Echo, May 16).

The planned development, to be known as Coatham Beach, which will be unveiled at a public meeting in the near future, is in my opinion brilliant.

It features everything the people of Redcar have always wanted - a long-awaited swimming pool, leisure facilities, boating lake, replacement Coatham Bowl, wildlife and wetland area to match, if not better, any in the North-East and last, but by no means least, a tribute to one of the region's most loved and respected women, the late Mo Mowlam, by way of a statue.

Leaving Majuba Road car park as it is would enhance the proposals by giving the (hopefully) many visitors somewhere to park.

I wish the new Red Carpet Development and its supporters every success.

Ray Vincent, Darlington.