The area to the South of Fellgate Estate has been earmarked for the development of a new 'garden village' with a minimum of 1200 houses, doctors surgeries and schools. However, to build these houses, thousands of acres of GREENBELT LAND will be destroyed. This area was marked as unsuitable for building in 2016 due to the destruction of the greenbelt. However, sadly this area has now been given the go-ahead for development. Nothing has changed, so why is something deemed unsuitable 7 years ago acceptable now? Similar plans have been submitted to build in Whitburn and Cleadon, these have been declined in recent months due to environmental impact. Why is our green space an acceptable alternative?

Developing on this land will destroy the habitat of many species, reduce the ability to grow crops and may lead to flooding due to excess water run-off into the already stretched local water outlets of the Dean and the Don. This may overwhelm the flood defences put in place around Fellgate and the surrounding area following the extensive floods of 2012.

The new development will generate an estimated 2000 extra cars. Some of the land is to be taken from West Fellgate Farm, destroying the livlihood of the farmer and his family.

Fellgate is a quiet estate, one which I grew up on and have recently returned to with my young family. However, one of two entrances to the new development will direct traffic onto Durham Drive, with estimates of over 2000 cars potentially using Durham Drive to exit the estate, with the other entrance being directly from the Mill Lane Roundabout. This will add to traffic on the A194 and the Boldon Lad traffic llights. There will be no entrance to the estate onto Testo's roundabout from the A184, this has been confirmed by the Highways Agency.

The local residents of Fellgate Estate and beyond are fighting to halt the development and protect the local greenbelt.

Thank you for reading, sign the petition if you support our cause.