‘Unleashing destruction’ - Campaigners hit out at South Tyneside’s Local Plan approval

Councillors have been accused of “unleashing destruction on us all” by agreeing to major Green Belt house building by passing South Tyneside’s controversial Local Plan strategy.

Campaigners say their decision – which allows the unlocking of hundreds of acres of protected fields for development - will lead to catastrophic loss of wildlife that can never be replaced.

In a damning verdict, they accused councillors who voted in favour at a heated council meeting on Thursday of burying their heads in the sand to the consequences.

At the meeting, the new Reform-led administration also voted to end the borough’s ‘climate emergency’ approval.

South Tyneside Tree Action Group (STAGG), which acts against tree felling, branded both approvals as “deplorable”.

There was also condemnation from the Green Party, from Labour and from campaigners fighting Green Belt development at Fellgate, in Jarrow.

‘We cannot continue to rip up fields and chop down trees’

Colin Porter, spokesman for STAGG, said: “We are bitterly disappointed that our precious remaining Green Belt has been given the green light to be developed.

“The threat has become a reality - our key decision makers do not care that what they are about to unleash has a magnitude of destruction on all of us that is immeasurable.

“These are developments that will see the catastrophic loss and destruction of wildlife, biodiversity and ecosystems that we humans are intrinsically linked to.

“We cannot continue to rip up fields and chop down trees that are essential to the very survival of our planet and all life.”

Green Party leader hits out

Cllr Rachael Taylor, South Tyneside’s Green Party leader, branded Local Plan approval as “an illusion of democracy”.

She added: “The decision to rescind the council’s climate emergency declaration is so desperately disappointing but expected following other Reform-led councils’ similar actions.

“While it does not remove the council’s legal environmental responsibilities, thank goodness, it sends a really worrying signal that climate action is no longer a priority in South Tyneside under a Reform-run administration.

“My concern is that this could weaken our ability to attract funding and will likely undermine confidence in the council’s environmental commitments.

“It will also slow progress on projects that reduce emissions, cut energy costs and initiatives that create a healthier and more resilient borough for future generations.”

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‘We deserve better’

Geraldine Kilgour, Labour’s sole borough councillor, accused every Reform councillor of betrayal.

The Fellgate and Hedworth representative said: “It’s a blatant and utter disregard for democracy. Not one of them said anything during the meeting.

“They were like robots, they simply took in what had been fed to them, without any scrutiny or interrogation. We deserve better.

“I hope this shows voters who voted on block for Reform, what they are like.”

‘Our campaign continues’

Dave Green, spokesman for the Save the Fellgate Greenbelt Working Group, said the fight against a proposal to build 1,200 homes next to the estate would continue.

Mr Green insisted: “This is a truly sad day, not only for Fellgate and the surrounding areas, but for South Tyneside as a whole.

“Reform promised openness, transparency and change, but these were absent at the meeting, along with the voices of every Reform councillor, as not one single word was spoken by any of them during the debate.

“Our campaign continues, it’s not over just yet.

“Residents will hold those responsible, including the councillors and developers, at every stage, should the development progress.”