RAY MALLON has been aware for some time that his obsession with demolishing hundreds of Middlesbrough’s older houses and selling most of the town’s remaining greenfield sites to property developers for new housing has alienated him from thousands of voters.

Could this have anything to do with his recent call for a mayoral referendum and decision to stand down (Echo, Mar 11)?

He is also aware that a number of residents are now circulating a petition which requires just over 5,000 signatures to hold a town-wide referendum on whether to replace the elected mayoral system in May 2015.

It seems to me that Mr Mallon is trying to delay this petition until May 2014, enabling the council to dispose of a number of controversial greenfield sites to developers and for planning permission to build hundreds of new houses to be granted before May 2014.

He is also aware that most residents want Middlesbrough Council to build the muchneeded new affordable homes on now derelict brownfield sites in Middlehaven ward, Gresham ward, Grove Hill and Whinney Banks.

I hope that people are not taken in by Mr Mallon’s sudden promise of a referendum in May 2014 and push ahead for it to take place within the next six months.

Ken Walker, Middlesbrough.