Sir, - Developers claiming to be following Government guidelines to build on brown-field sites are increasingly invading our precious countryside.

Several applications at present waiting for decisions by Stockton Council's planning department are threatening to extend development beyond the limits decreed by local structure plans. The hope is that our elected representatives will stand firm and reject these invasions.

The area south of Stockton and on the narrow strip between Stockton and the North York Moors National Park is at risk from the following:

* removal of Yarm School to Green Lane;

* new primary school on green wedge land at Ingleby Barwick;

* 20-plus apartments on the site of the old Cross Keys (pictured above) at the bottom of Leven Bank (yes, just before the narrow bridge);

* 350 apartments on the site of Tall Trees night club;

* more apartments already being built at Kirklevington on the site of the old Kirk nightclub.

Is this what was intended by the policy to build on brown-field sites?

Surely not. I thought we were going to reclaim land devastated by old industries now defunct. I thought we were going to rejuvenate local town centres where at present decent people suffer the blight of drugs and robberies.

We need stronger resolve from our local councillors and planners to direct development to the genuine brown-field sites so that we see genuine revitalisation of land left to rot by old industries and houses uninhabitable because of crime and neglect.

If ever there was a case for creating a Green Belt around Teesside then this is it.

IRENE MACHIN

Thorington Gardens,

Ingleby Barwick.