ONE of the leading figures in the regeneration of the region last night welcomed plans which will transform industrial wasteland on the banks of the River Tees.

But Alistair Arkley, chairman of the Tees Valley Partnership, warned: "It should not be at the detriment of other areas."

Mr Arkley was speaking after The Northern Echo revealed councils in Middlesbrough and Stockton are planning to create a "city centre" at the heart of the Tees Valley.

The multi-million pound proposals for both sides of the river include a conference centre, hotel, waterfront housing, commercial premises and an arena or theatre.

Plans will be officially unveiled next month, but there are already fears that the project could lead to an unfair division of regeneration money with Darlington, Hartlepool and Redcar and Cleveland missing out.

Mr Arkley said: "It is good if people work together and if Stockton and Middlesbrough are doing it, that can't be a bad thing. However, one does need to get a balance across the whole of the partnership area in terms of setting priorities for what is good for people throughout the Tees Valley.

"Inevitably there is never enough money or resources available and the function of the partnership is to look at the requests and consider which of these is going to be in the best interests of all the people."

Council chiefs in Middlesbrough and Stockton insist the ground-breaking alliance - designed to provide a new heart for the Tees Valley, increase land values and provide employment prospects - has far-reaching benefits.

But councillors in the other three districts have warned that they must be included in the discussions to make sure they do not lose out on much-needed jobs and investment.