I REFER to CT Riley’s letter regarding the planning application for 400 new houses on the old Thorn site at Merrington Lane, in Spennymoor (HAS, May 7).

Can I stress that all councillors at the Sedgefield Borough planning meeting voted in favour of this proposal. To vote against it would have meant the complete loss of the Thorn plant in Spennymoor and 600 jobs. I favoured the regeneration of Low Spennymoor as it was a brownfield site.

I would point out that I favour most applications on brownfield sites and, although I voted in favour of the first phase at High Whitworth, I opposed 600 extra houses.

My reason for doing so?

Because they were too close to our beautiful countryside.

Both Kevin Thompson and myself spoke in favour of the Westerton caravan site at a recent planning meeting and helped to save 55 jobs.

With 2,300 houses in the pipeline for Spennymoor, it is important to sort out Festival Walk, which is an eyesore, and I have asked Durham County Council to deal with it.

Councillor Ben Ord, Spennymoor.