NOBODY wants new housing estates built near them, a fact neatly illustrated by opposition to housing proposals in Northallerton.

The campaign group fighting an idea to build on previously-undeveloped land just north of the town near Brompton, have as one string to their bow the argument that brownfield sites - previously developed land - should be built on in preference to green fields.

We can all sign up to the general principle espoused here, but the one major remaining brownfield site left in Northallerton - the York Trailers land off Yafforth Road - is also opposed on the grounds that it should remain a site used for industry, despite the lack of any obvious interest in the site over many years.

The problem is a major site for new housing has to be found in Northallerton - the Government through its agents says so - so somewhere will be sacrificed.

Splendidly ironic?

DARLINGTON'S white elephant of a big, black, electronic sign in Tubwell Row - which has not worked since it was installed, blocking a pavement, in January 2007 - never ceases to amuse Spectator.

The £10,000 monstrosity was meant to give car parking details but normally just reads "Welcome to Darlington Town Centre" with only the occasional festive message to relieve the monotony.

The other day, Spectator noticed it read "Local Motion - Keep Your Town on the Move". As the sign is within sight of the ring road, where traffic regularly grinds to a halt, Spectator assumes the borough council is being splendidly ironic.

Closing, for good

Readers may recall a note last December about a Darlington sports shop's endless closing down sale.

McGurk Sports had been "closing down" for at least a year we reckoned.

Not long afterwards the closing down sale notices were replaced with plain sale notices. Whether that was anything to do with our note we know not, but this week the closing down sale notices were back. This time, however, it may actually be closing down. Spectator's source on High Row tells me it is to become a coffee shop. Well, what else could it be?

Out of court

The rather messy business at Richmond Town Council, which has led to the departure of a deputy town clerk and the resignation of two former mayors, is heading for an employment tribunal.

But Spectator understands that all parties are hopeful it doesn't come to that as there could be some extraordinarily dirty linen washed in the process. The smart money is on an pre-hearing settlement.