BANKS along the River Tees are being eroded at a worrying rate.

This is the stark warning from a Stockton-based green action group - and campaigners claim development plans now before Stockton Council can only make matters worse.

Instead, the Council for the Protection of Rural England wants to see a heritage park along the river valley and the entire area declared green wedge.

Publication of a navigation strategy is holding up consideration of the CPRE's proposals for the park.

The local organiser, Jan Arger, said if Stockton approved any of the development schemes in the meantime, the group would call in the plans through the Government Office for the North-East.

Ms Arger is already planning a strong lobby as a massive office, homes and retail scheme for Bowesfield comes under scrutiny next week.

The nub of the problem, she said, was the dramatic effect of the Tees Barrage in keeping the water at a constant level.

Because there was no ebb and flow, the same areas of bank were being hit all the time, accelerating the natural erosion process. Ultimately, said the CPRE, it would remove vast quantities of the banks, trees and paths and would silt up.

British Waterways, which operates the Barrage, denied there was a problem.

Rather, said a spokesman, bank stability had improved since the barrage was created.

Ms Arger accepted that the barrage had done wonderful things for Stockton."It has made the town centre more viable and attractive by controlling the river," she said.

"But we propose that the green wedge designation which stops inappropriate development is strengthened, ideally with Green Belt status.

"We want to see the creation of a heritage park to celebrate the importance of the river and re-connect the people with their natural heritage."

Ms Arger said there were plans afoot to build totally unsuitable developments along the Green Wedge sites.

She cited three schemes in particular: Bettys Close Farm; the Quarry Farm golf course at Ingleby Barwick and massive development at Bowesfield.

She said the heritage park idea was perfectly viable and should attract Government grants as well as tourist income. "We are waiting to make progress on this once the British Waterways navigation strategy document has been published," she said.

Harold Fleming, Yarm Civic Society chairman, is backing the moves. "Many gardens and properties in Yarm are affected by the erosion problem. It is quite serious," he said.

Alan Slater, Stockton-based rivers manager for BW, said an 11-year bank monitoring scheme had revealed that bank stability along the Tees had actually improved.

"There is nothing to worry about. Let nature take its course."

Stockton Council said it was committed to the regeneration of the Tees and surrounding areas, including the protection of the natural environment.

Assistant planning director Mike Leason said that as part of this the council, working with partners, had produced a strategy for the river which included extensive public consultation.

He said the pending Bettys Close Farm application for development was compatible with green wedge use as it incorporated a new 50-acre park.

The other main schemes were yet to be decided by the planning committee, he said.

* Further details: page 11