Developer cries ‘witch hunt’ over planning refusal

Former Thornaby FC manager Trevor Arnold saw his bid for houses off Acklam Road refused by Stockton Council planning committee last week.

But the Carlington Developments boss has pledged to appeal the decision at the Planning Inspectorate and hit out at criticism from Thornaby councillors. 

Fears about the impact the homes could have on the nearby cemetery and trees led all 12 councillors to vote against plans last Wednesday. 

Thornaby Mayor Cllr Steve Walmsley felt the developer was “chancing his arm” and told the committee the homes would do “immense damage to a cherished area”.

However, Mr Arnold labelled the concerns a “witch hunt”. He said: “They say it’s a nature haven but it’s a dump. 

“We’ve got to redevelop the sports facilities – and we’ve cut down the number of houses.

“It’s ridiculous that they go on about the cemetery. 

“I’ve been taking photographs around there and most of the gravestones are from long ago.

“Some say 1858, who the hell is going to be looking at them?”

The site near Thornaby FC has a rich planning history. 

Apartment blocks were approved on the stretch in 2006 and 2008 but the vision never came to fruition. 

Meanwhile, a past bid by Carlington Developments for 60 homes on the stretch was turned down in 2016 over concerns about the character of Teesdale Park being hit. 

These latest plans were scaled down from 26 homes to 10 after concerns from council officials. 

Mr Arnold believed the land off the A1130 was ripe for redevelopment. 

He added: “The Government is saying they want more houses developed – and this is an absolutely ideal site and something I’ve wanted to put together for a long time.

“It would develop sports facilities, have kids playing football there and in order to do that and have a new clubhouse which we were quite prepared to build, it needs to be secure.”

The developer added he wanted to build affordable homes for younger people. 

Mr Arnold said: “I sold my business in 2008 for £11m so the last thing I need is any more money – but I wanted to develop something down there because I used to manage Thornaby FC. 

“The reason why I wanted the thing in the first place was to secure the tenure of the football club – that was the whole point of doing it.

“You need money to develop it and the only way to do it is to build some properties on it. 

“That secures the security of the site as well. 

“It’s an absolute disgrace and a witch-hunt.”

He also disagreed with the ground and wider site being called a “park” as part of Teesdale Park – adding a petition of 300 signatures had backed his redevelopment efforts.

“This was a slag heap in 1935 built by Head Wrightson,” said Mr Arnold. “It’s useless for anything else and the whole area could be regenerated. 

“We could have a really nice facility with a gated community, sports facilities with old and young using the clubhouse.

“I just don’t understand where these people are coming from.”

Councillors refused the plans on the grounds of its impact on the character of the area, how it would affect the cemetery and a lack of information in the blueprints.

Cllr Walmsley hit back in turn at Mr Arnold’s assessment. 

The mayor said the cemetery’s old stones were part of what made it so quaint – and feared the plans would harm mature trees.

He added: “It’s a hysterical rant – the houses he talks about wouldn’t make a blind bit of difference in the five year housing provision. It’s just nonsense.”

The mayor also pointed to fly tipping on other open fields in the town – including in Littleboy Park. 

Cllr Walmsley added: “As for it not being a park, there was a memorial match for Mario D’Ambrosio played on the Head Wrightson Athletics Ground, Teesdale Park.

“It’s always been a park. He should get his £11m, go and live somewhere warm and forget all about it.

“Benefactors donated Littleboy Park and Harold Wilson to Thornaby and its people.

“If he can’t do anything with it, why doesn’t he become a rich benefactor and just hand it over to the people of Thornaby?”