A PROTESTOR fighting multi-million pound plans to regenerate a Teesside town centre has taken his battle to the Deputy Prime Minister.

Plans to demolish Billingham's 1960s shopping centre and build a £20m leisure, learning and cultural facility are expected to be submitted to Stockton Borough Council before Christmas.

But former university lecturer John Ivison, who once worked on planning studies to improve the Canadian city of Vancouver, has already taken his protest to Deputy Prime Minister John Prescott.

In a detailed letter, he highlights that up to 30 per cent of John Whitehead park would be destroyed to make way for the proposal, called The Gateway Project.

Mr Ivison, who recently returned from Canada where he was a member of the Canadian Heritage Commission and a consultant engineer, reserves his most vehement arguments against the demolition of The Forum theatre, sports and recreational centre.

He argues that reports show the Forum building is structurally sound and would be superior to any new building.

He estimates that the refurbishment work would cost £3m - a fraction of the cost of the new building.

Mr Ivison said that he expects the final decision will eventually be referred to Mr Prescott.

In the letter, he said: "Why would anyone want to demolish a building that is a Billingham landmark and invest such a large amount of capital in building a smaller facility?"

Kevin Pitt, chairman of the Billingham Partnership Board which is recommending the Stockton Borough Council-backed Gateway Project, said refurbishing the town centre would cost much more than the £3m suggested by Mr Ivison.

He said: "I welcome Mr Ivison's letter and hope the public debate will continue.

"One thing I would say about the idea to build on part of the park is we would actually want the rest of the area to be officially protected and have money spent on it, so we would have a much better used public space."

Earlier this year, a £17m bid for private finance initiative money from the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister and the Department for Culture, Media and Sport was turned down. Despite the setback, Stockton Borough Council is exploring other options for funding.