Petition to stop new homes on green belt

A petition to stop 1,200 new homes being built on the green belt has been submitted to a council.

South Tyneside Council has plans to build new homes and community infrastructure on land south of Fellgate.

Residents, who have citing environmental and health concerns, delivered a petition containing more than 2,200 signatures to the council.

Mayor Fay Cunningham said the petition would be referred to the appropriate council body “for further consideration”.

Dave Green, from Save the Fellgate Green Belt, said residents had concerns about the loss of "biodiverse natural habitats" and a working farm, as well increased traffic congestion and flooding.

He said the housing could be accommodated on "many other brownfield sites in the area", according to the Local Democracy Reporting Service.

The council expects to submit its draft Local Plan to the government for public examination later this year.

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