A CAMPAIGNER is trying to rally support to change the face of local democracy in east Cleveland.

Comedian Chris McGlade is hoping to collect enough signatures - in this case 5,179 - to force a vote of no confidence in Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council and call for an elected mayor.

His latest tactic is part of an on-going wrangle over the council's handling of the controversial Coatham Enclosure scheme, in Redcar.

He said: "The people are sick and tired of not being listened to. I intend to start collecting 5,179 signatures to show the council that the people are willing to have a vote of no confidence in the current system.

"Once we get the votes, we will try to get an elected mayor instead of having a council cabinet that is being dictated to by council officers. You never know, I might even stand for election myself."

Mr McGlade, who stood as a prospective Redcar MP at the last General Election, believes he will be able to call on the support of not only Redcar residents but disgruntled people from South Bank and Grangetown who are fighting the council in a bid to save their homes.

But Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council's cabinet member for corporate resources, Councillor Glyn Nightingale, believes the Coatham proposals have the backing of the majority of local residents.

He said: "The Coatham Links proposals are generating a lot of balanced debate. The plan was originally produced by the previous Labour administration and is now endorsed by the current coalition.

"Council members are quite capable of making up their own minds on this and see it as a fantastic opportunity for the area.

"There has been extensive consultation which clearly shows the overwhelming majority of people wish to see this scheme through to fruition.

"It is simply unrealistic to believe that any motion of no-confidence, or even the possibility of obtaining signatures to call for an elected mayor, can stop the project."

Mr McGlade decided to start the petition after councillors agreed the final plan for the project, despite many aspects of it being rated high risk by officers.

But the cabinet member for economic development, Councillor Vera Moody, said any major project would always have a whole range of potential risks and Coatham was no different