THOUSANDS of objections to a proposed housing development have been handed to Stockton Borough Council.

English Environment has collected signatures from people in Stockton and Thornaby who oppose plans to build 150 houses, offices, e-commerce centres, call centres, hotel, health club and sailing centre, near the River Tees, in Bowesfield, near Stockton.

The site is next to the Three Holmes Winter Wildfowl Wetlands Site.

MP for Stockton South Dari Taylor has already joined the campaign and now prospective Conservative candidate Tim Devlin has voiced objections.

He said: "There is no point in having to continuously examine new proposals for areas such as Bowesfield Lane and the Tees riverside opposite Bassleton Wood, when what is really needed is a final settlement as to which parts of the borough can be built over, and which cannot."

Mr Devlin has called for an agreed plan for green sites, as well as the existing local plan.

He said: "The exact boundaries of such a green belt could be drawn up with public consultation and the advice of local conservation bodies."

Stockton council will decide on the application by Banks Developers in the coming weeks