Sir, – I refer to the letter from Carol Straughan, Stockton Council Head of Planning (D&S letters, Oct 5).

The 40,000 increase in Stockton's population over the next 30 years she refers to is only an estimate. Every single major government forecast for growth in recent years has turned out to be false. The importance in planning terms is that once planning permission has been awarded for a development, it cannot be taken back if forecasts are not fulfilled.

Local residents might be interested to know that the figures used by Stockton in their own preferred options document show that in 2011, in the Yarm, Eaglescliffe and Preston area, overall supply exceeded demand by 23 per cent.

Given the unsold properties and sites with approval but not developed, it is just not realistic to be approving additional developments of this scale way into the future.

For geographic reasons, unless and until a new bridge is constructed over the River Tees in Yarm, the traffic problems of Yarm are insoluble. There is no prospect of such a bridge being built in the foreseeable future. It is therefore untenable to develop thousands of new houses in the Yarm area.

Serious concerns have existed for many years over traffic-created atmospheric pollution in Yarm High Street. This can only be exacerbated if these developments were to be approved.

The inevitable result of a increase in local traffic, would be gridlock at rush hour periods. The temporary financial attraction to the council of the new housing subsidy has to be looked at in the round. The Yarm, Eaglescliffe and Preston areas, not only generate substantial income for the council, they also, along with the Heritage Park, are in the forefront of the change of image for the Stockton and Teesside area that is so critical for inward investment. Contrast the image of prosperous Yarm High Street with that of Stockton High Street. Stockton on Tees Borough Council cannot risk damaging this successful image – it is just too important.

To be fair to Stockton Council, it actually has a good record in protecting the Heritage Park. It rejected proposals to develop a major comprehensive school in Preston Hall's grounds and discouraged the building of a wind turbine on the banks of the Tees. I cannot believe it would sabotage its own creation by permitting totally inappropriate development near to Egglescliffe conservation village.

This area and view is, after Preston Park, the most visible and best known and loved part of the Heritage Park. It is, along with the High Street, what gives Yarm is unique character. It must be cherished and protected at all costs.

NORMAN F DOUGLAS

Vice-Chair CPRE Stockton Eaglescliffe, Stockton on Tees.