Villagers fight plans for hundreds of homes they say will 'destroy' Cleadon

Watch more of our videos on ShotsTV.com 
and on Freeview 262 or Freely 565
Visit Shots! now
Villagers have launched a campaign against a vision to build hundreds of new homes in Cleadon – claiming they are being “ignored” by council chiefs.

South Tyneside Council has set out blueprints to build up to 5,000 homes across the borough in the next 15 years under the authority’s ‘Local Plan’, with 18 greenbelt sites among those earmarked for development.

The draft document includes 477 houses proposed for three separate sites in Cleadon, though council officers have stressed no final decision has been made.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Residents of Cleadon have submitted around 1,500 objections to the proposals under the Local Plan, which reached the end of its consultation period in October 2019.

Cleadon Action Group members Margaret Sunderland, Linda Mordain, Luisa Mordain, Alan Mordain, Iain Colderwood, Ian Beattie oppose the council's Local Plan.Cleadon Action Group members Margaret Sunderland, Linda Mordain, Luisa Mordain, Alan Mordain, Iain Colderwood, Ian Beattie oppose the council's Local Plan.
Cleadon Action Group members Margaret Sunderland, Linda Mordain, Luisa Mordain, Alan Mordain, Iain Colderwood, Ian Beattie oppose the council's Local Plan. | Johnston Press

Now Cleadon Action Group, which has more than 1,000 members online, is hoping to raise £10,000 to appoint legal representation over the plans which they say could “destroy” the area.

Council officers say they are in regular contact with the group, but Ian Beattie, of Mayfield Drive, who is among the objectors, said residents felt they were not being listened to.

“We’re very disappointed with the reactions to residents’ concerns,” he said.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

“We’ve been lobbying at all levels and they just seem to ignore what their electorate are saying. The only way that we feel we can get them to listen is to take legal action.”

There are housing plans for the land off Shields Road/Sunderland RoadThere are housing plans for the land off Shields Road/Sunderland Road
There are housing plans for the land off Shields Road/Sunderland Road | Johnston Press

Neighbour, Alan Mordain added: “People are very angry about it. It’s not just the fact it’s right on our doorstep, it’s a disproportionate amount of building that they are proposing.”

Mr Beattie said the group is concerned the village does not have the infrastructure to cope with the proposed number of new homes.

“It’s going to affect the health of everyone in the village. It's the disruption, the effect on the air quality, the pollution, the sewage. It’s going to destroy Cleadon as a village,” he said.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

The group has called on South Tyneside Council to prioritise brownfield sites for development and has made contact with Housing Minister Esther McVey, who in an open letter recently urged councils to “maximise the potential of previously developed land” to “limit pressure” on Greenbelt sites.

There are housing plans for the land off Sunderland RoadThere are housing plans for the land off Sunderland Road
There are housing plans for the land off Sunderland Road | Johnston Press

They also claim that 2018 projections from the Office for National Statistics suggest the housing requirement in South Tyneside to be significantly lower than the 2014 figures on which the Local Plan proposals are based.

“The brownfield will stay just there, festering and becoming an eyesore forever and we’ll be stuck with all these houses and the greenbelt having been developed,” said Mr Mordain.

“We have to get them to see some common sense. It’s just a fiasco.”

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

The money from a crowdfunding campaign will also be used to carry out a traffic assessment in the village, where the group fears congestion and parking issues are going to be “exacerbated” if development goes ahead.

“Of the 18 potential greenfield sites that are in the Local Plan, 12 of them are in or adjacent to Cleadon,” said Mr Beattie.

“A disproportionate amount of the local greenbelt between Cleadon, East Boldon and Whitburn is all being soaked up. It’s going to create havoc in terms of travel.”

Iain Colderwood, also of Mayfield Drive, added: “It’s the character of the village that young people want to buy into. With this level of development, and congestion, all that’s going to be lost.”

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Objections to the Local Plan are being reviewed before consultation next year.

A spokesperson for South Tyneside Council said the authority has been in regular contact with the group.

A spokesperson said: “No final decisions have been made at this stage. Following consultation on the first draft of the local plan, we are now analysing responses received and all feedback will be considered when shaping the formal Publication Draft, which we will consult on next year.

“We have a statutory obligation to meet our future housing and employment needs that means we have had to look at all options to accommodate development in our draft local plan.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

“Ultimately, the plan will be submitted to the Secretary of State for a Public Examination before an independent Planning Inspector.”

Meetings for residents to find out more and donate to the campaign are being held on Saturday, November 23 at Cleadon Methodist Church, from 11am-1pm and Tuesday, November 26 at the New Ship pub from 6.30pm-7pm.

You can donate to the campaign at www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/cleadon-action-group

News you can trust since 1849
Follow us
©National World Publishing Ltd. All rights reserved.Cookie SettingsTerms and ConditionsPrivacy notice