Hi everyone, thanks for your continued support.

The numbers of signatories on our petition continues to grow.

There is now also a paper copy of this petition at Whitburn library for those that struggle with the internet.

The online petition was formally presented to the full South Tyneside Borough council meeting on 15th January by Rachael Taylor, leader of South Tyneside Green Party.

We are still awaiting a formal response from the council.

The petition will remain live while we await the planning application for this proposed development.

When the multi billionaire owners of this land (The Church Commissioners) sell to the multi millionaire developer ( Story homes ) to build these unaffordable executive homes both parties will make themselves even richer.

Whitburn village will lose valuable, arable green fields from the protected green belt which currently protects it from urban sprawl. The population of the village of Whitburn will increase by about 10% with a significant level of extra strain on social infrastructure.

Another material planning consideration and a major factor is the amount of additional traffic this new development will create. The 205 houses proposed for this site may bring up to 400 more cars into the village. These cars will enter and leave the development on the only entrance/ exit on Mill Lane (A183).

This is a significant amount of extra traffic on a road which carried a daily average of 8536 vehicles in 2025, an 11.9% increase on the 2024 daily totals.

I feel so strongly about this issue that I have put myself forward as a Green Party candidate as a councillor for the Whitburn and Marsden ward in the forthcoming (May) local elections. If I am elected this will give me a stronger voice in planning issues that concern Whitburn village residents.

You can learn more about my campaign on my Facebook Page 

Thanks for taking time to read this update.

Regards

Steve Lavelle