Petition to Sunderland City Council to designate the open greenspace land adjacent to Fulwell Methodist Church, Seaburn Dene, Sunderland SR6 8LN as Local Green Space under its Local Plan.

We, the undersigned, request that Sunderland City Council designate 3,759sq.m of land adjacent to Fulwell Methodist Church as Local Green Space under its Local Plan, which is currently undergoing public consultation.

The National Planning Policy Framework gives local communities the right, through local and neighbourhood plans, to identify green areas of particular importance to them for special protection by means of a Local Green Space designation, the effect of which is to rule out new development other than in very special circumstances.

We submit that the land meets the criteria set out at Paragraph 77 of the National Planning Policy Framework (see below for details) and, at the time of writing, does not have planning permission granted.  It therefore qualifies for designation.

1. Requirement for the green space to be in reasonably close proximity to the community it serves.

The land is centrally located within a predominantly residential area of Seaburn/Fulwell.  Dovedale Road, on which it is situated, is a busy thoroughfare for people travelling towards Sunderland City Centre, South Shields, Cleadon, Boldon and Southwick.  It is within close proximity of three local schools, namely Monkwearmouth Academy, Seaburn Dene Primary, and Fulwell Infant School, as well as Seaburn Metro Station and Sea Road, which is the main shopping/high street for the area.

2. Requirement for the green area to be demonstrably special to a local community and holds a particular local significance, for example because of its beauty, historic significance, recreational value (including as a playing field), tranquility or richness of its wildlife.

The significance of the land to the local community is largely, but not exclusively, due to its recreational value.  For a period in excess of fifty years, the land has been used by the local community as a quasi-village green, where people take part in a range of recreational activities.  It has and continues to be used on a daily basis by local people, both adults and children, for playing sports, dog training classes, boot camps, dog walking, summer camps, out of school groups and other activities.  The use of the land in this way is a long-established local tradition and, because of this, the land has become an integral part of community life, part of the fabric and character of the area.  It is one of the few green areas of its kind remaining in the locality and its loss would prove a huge detriment to the community. 

The site is rare in the sense that it provides a safe and accessible outdoor space for children and older members of the community.  It benefits from being largely enclosed by the boundary wall of Mere Knolls Cemetery, garden fences to the rear of Torver Crescent and railings separating the land from the church.  Additionally, the fact that the raised area immediately adjacent to the church steps provides a buffer between the main portion of the site and the road, thereby limiting the possibility of children or animals running into the road.

The land also has historical significance.  Historic maps of the area show that the land once formed part of Dene Lane, which is described in Sunderland City Council’s ‘Heritage Trial’ literature as “an ancient right of way that is said to be the route taken by monks travelling between the monastic sites at Wearmouth and Jarrow, during the age of Bede over 1300 years ago.”

Additionally, the land brings a much needed element of natural beauty to a heavily developed residential area, particularly the mature trees, which can be seen on the boundary of the land as well as inside the cemetery walls.  It also benefits from a beautiful view of Cleadon Hills and the surrounding farm land, with two of the area’s most notable landmarks, Cleadon Windmill and Cleadon Water Tower, clearly visible on the horizon.   

3. Requirement that the green area concerned be local in character and is not an extensive tract of land.

It is not explicitly stated in the National Planning Policy Framework what is to be considered extensive for these purposes.  However, as stated above, the site area comprises approximately 3,759sq.m of land.  It is very much self-contained, being partially enclosed by the boundary wall of Mere Knolls Cemetery, garden fences to the rear of Torver Crescent and railings separating the land from Fulwell Methodist Church.

The Lead Petitioner in this instance is Mrs Lyndsey Middleton-Kitcatt, on behalf of Save Dovedale Road Greenspace, who is willing to act as the point of contact in respect of this petition.  Queries can be addressed to savedovedalegreenspace@outlook.com.