THE impact of a massive new homes scheme on deprived areas of East Cleveland has been spotlighted by planning councillors.

Despite warnings that East Cleveland faces economic decline "on a scale like never before", a plan for 285 houses near Redcar got the go-ahead.

Redcar and Cleveland planning committee faced a double-edged sword, it was claimed.

Coun Dave McLuckie said: "We are enticing young families away from East Cleveland, causing massive deprivation there.

"We need to start rebuilding the economy of the rural area to encourage people to stay put."

The scheme is for land between Redcar Road and the A174 Marske bypass at Mickledales.

Residential development of the whole of the Mickledales site was approved in 1999 and construction is already under way. The local parish council and residents have objected, saying the area is over-developed.

Coun David Walsh said: "We have a development in line with our own local plan and the level of housing density is lower than first thought.

"It meets all criteria and it would be madness for anyone to even consider opposing it."

Marske ward Coun Madge Moses raised the question of health hazards as a result of sewage pollution at Marske beach. "It has been disgusting there lately and we can't deal with any extra sewage," she said.

Planning officer Mrs Penny Furniss said: "Extensions to the sewage plant have been approved by us so there should be major improvements there."

Coun Mary Ovens was concerned about community facilities. "There is nothing such as a village hall or shops. And I hope we will look carefully at where play areas are placed."

Coun Arthur Harvison said the Mickledales site was getting enormous.

"The green fields and wildlife are being pushed further and further back," he said. "I am not happy about the way this is spreading."

Committee chairman Coun Helen McLuckie said the issue would have to be assessed when the local plan was reviewed.

Coun Dave McLuckie said: "People are being forced into areas such as Marske and New Marske to get the kind of properties they want.

"It is beginning to have an impact in a big way in East Cleveland. It is heading for economic decline on a scale we have never heard of before.

"Unemployment out there is already way above average.

"I would like to see the people of East Cleveland able to stay there if they want to."

Coun Peter Spencer said: "This development has caused a lot of concern. Half the trouble is these plans are looking at a situation in the future and now we have a declining population which was not mooted when the plans were first considered."

Coun Vera Moody said brownfield sites should be developed first.

"We are seeing a very serious decline in East Cleveland and the area needs all our support," she said.

"Unless we get more jobs there is no point building the houses because people will migrate. The bypass was supposed to open up East Cleveland but we have seen very little in that respect. Instead, there is a decline in the population because there is no advancement on the jobs scene."