A SENIOR councillor is calling for a system to distribute information about potential environmental threats to the region.

Durham County councillors fear the "ghost fleet'' of American naval ships destined for a Hartlepool breakers yard pose a pollution risk to the county's revamped coastline.

They are particularly concerned that the old vessels, which contain asbestos and oil residues, could be anchored off the mouth of the River Tees.

The council was not consulted when the Able Yard in Hartlepool sought licences for the dismantling of the ships because it is outside the immediate area.

Durham County Council cabinet member Bob Pendlebury has said that a regional assembly should set up an environmental watchdog whose bite is as strong as its bark''.

Yesterday he told his colleagues information about such proposals should automatically be passed to councils and other agencies in the region.

"We only heard about it through the newspapers.

"It seems to me there is a need for a structure to at least be aware of issues like this, which could have an impact on the wider region.''

He added he was concerned about possible pollution of the coast _ cleaned up with the £10m Turning the Tide project - if a storm broke while the ships were anchored.

But Craig McGarvey, Environment Agency area manager for the Tees Valley and North Yorkshire, said: "We have no desire to see Turning the Tide compromised.

"Our understanding is that the vessels will get towed straight into the dock.''

He also told the cabinet that most of the waste from the ships would go to disposal sites in the Hartlepool area.

Councillors voiced concern that after eliminating the after-effects of mining and heavy industry, the ghost fleet recovery scheme could hinder efforts to attract new jobs to the county.

But Weardale Independent councillor John Shuttleworth said: "No-one has mentioned the 200 people who will get work from this.

"Friends of the Earth and these environmentalists want to get a life. It is 200 jobs and we need them whether they are in Hartlepool or elsewhere.

Councillors were told there would be monitoring of the scheme by the Environment Agency and their USA counterparts.

Council deputy leader Don Ross said the Able Yard should be made to pay for any pollution that was caused. "Government or local government shouldn't have to pay.''

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