Sir, – I write in response regarding opposition to the proposed student accommodation apartments at the rear of Thornaby Town Hall, site of the former Rocket Union building.

I believe that this is a totally unsuitable development which will damage the image of the local area and has been ill conceived.

I believe that it is a greedy profit-making idea by the company and that Stockton Borough Council should reject all planning applications.

There is absolutely no need for further student accommodation in the Stockton and Thornaby area. The university itself has publicly stated that there is “ample accommodation”

for students in the area.

Together with a further two planning applications considered next to the current new student building on Victoria Bridge, it is a crazy overdevelopment of the area around Victoria Bridge for students.

In the article, Steve Hesmondhaigh, one of the developers, states people attending the university travel to the university from outside the area.

They want reasonably priced accommodation currently provided by local landlords rather than expensive apartments built by developers.

Stockton Borough Council, do your duty. Do not fail the residents of the borough again.

NAME AND ADDRESS WITHHELD