THE man behind a planned protest march in Redcar later this month has called for other groups to join in and champion their causes.

Comedian Chris McGlade, who lives in Redcar, is leading a campaign against a proposed multi-million pound housing and leisure development at the seafront Coatham Enclosure.

He has launched a petition against the development by Persimmon and collected more than 5,000 signatures in three weeks.

The protest march is due to start at noon on Wednesday, October 20, from the town's Majuba Road car park. Following the march, the petition will be handed in to Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council, which is backing the plans.

The council says the housing side of the development is necessary in order to secure funding to provide new leisure facilities, including a 25m swimming pool.

A council commission was due to be held last night at Redcar Community College in response to residents' concerns about the development.

Mr McGlade, who says he has taken two months out from work to co-ordinate the campaign, said: "I never intended it to be like this, but it's like a ball of wool that's unravelling more and more all the time.

"It started out as just about the housing, but people are up in arms at the way the council has been underhanded.

"People have just had enough of being bullied and pushed about, and the fightback has to start somewhere."

Coun Vera Moody, the council cabinet member for economic regeneration, said Mr McGlade's claims of underhandedness by the council were unfounded.

She said: "We have had an exceptional public consultation over the last two years, with two public meetings, a display in the library, a newsletter and letters to over 2,500 people in the Coatham ward explaining what our intentions are."

She added: "We have successfully negotiated funding for this excellent, innovative development which will deliver a high quality £55m investment into Redcar, including £22m-worth of leisure facilities."

Mr McGlade said the protest had spread beyond Redcar. Groups from Billingham, Middlesbrough, Hartlepool and North Yorkshire had pledged their support and intended to join the march.

He added: "I've even been in touch with a group in Cornwall who are fighting the same sort of development, and they are thinking about sending some people up with a banner."

Racehorse trainer Howard Johnson, who often uses the beach at Redcar to exercise his horses, has said he will send a box down with some of his string, if he can.

Mr McGlade said: "I urge anybody who cares about the future of Redcar and the type of area we are going to be left with to attend the march.

"I also urge anybody who has a grievance with their councils to come and use this fight as a magnifying glass for their own struggles."