The Coatham development will include homes and leisure facilities

Thousands of protestors are angry at plans for the Coatham Enclosure site, in Redcar, which include 250 new homes, a hotel, visitor tower and bingo hall.

The objections hinge on covenants linked to the development site and claims that open space will be lost.

But Redcar and Cleveland Council says legal advice insists covenants are not a legal barrier to the project.

Protesters, who have collected about 6,000 signatures on a petition, took to the streets earlier this month against the plans.

They claimed there had been insufficient public consultation about the proposals.

But a spokeswoman for Redcar and Cleveland Council said: "The issue over the covenants formed the basis of objections handed in.

"Our solicitors, Eversheds, have examined all the deed packages - four do not have covenants, one is associated with adjoining land outside the development and the remaining two would not prevent development taking place.

'Clear understanding'

"We have been so confident that the covenants will not prevent development that we never regarded it as an issue.

"We are only too happy to clarify our position and try and bring a clearer understanding of what the covenants can and cannot do.

"Although the Coatham site clearly includes elements of public open space, under the Town and Country Planning Act, the council can change its use and then dispose of it for development purposes."

Protestors claimed the amount of open space in Redcar had decreased significantly over the past 12 years.

Coatham resident Charles Davis said: "It seems the council are trying to railroad the deal through against a lot of local residents' wishes.

"Whilst we are not against all the decisions, we would like them to modify the plans."