FAMILIES in Guisborough are calling for a public meeting to discuss proposals by Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council to turn the only piece of greenbelt land left in the town into a car park.

The council wants to relocate one of its departments at Cargo Fleet, near Middlesbrough, to a disused highways depot in Guisborough.

The plan would involve neighbouring parkland being bulldozed to make way for a car park.

The Beckside Park Protest Group says the land, near Chapel Beck, is the last piece of greenbelt land in Guisborough, and is the only place accessible to wheelchairs.

The residents are also concerned for a kingfisher and crayfish, which live in the beck.

At a meeting of Guisborough Town Council, on Thursday night, Stuart Burns, a spokesman for the group, said they had gathered a petition with more than 2,000 signatures. They planned to hand it to Redcar and Cleveland council.

He said that Laurence Jackson School and Prior Pursglove College had also asked for the petition, so students and teachers could add their support.

He said: "It is the only greenbelt beckside walk we have in Guisborough, where people can walk along the side of the beck. We are very concerned we are going to lose that piece of land."

The council agreed to back the residents' demand for a public meeting.

Councillor Jo Gardener said: "I am appalled the borough council would dream of building on that land."

Councillor Mary Kirkpatrick said: "I definitely think we don't want to lose any more greenbelt land. We have not been fully consulted and we know very little about it. Something has got to be done"

But Councillor Keith Pudney, who also sits on Redcar and Cleveland council, said the borough council was only looking at the Chapel Beck site as an alternative to the preferred site at the old foundry at Blackett Hutton. Negotiations were continuing between the council and the foundry owner.