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Herald & Post Article – March 2007

A couple of weeks ago residents at the Royal Quays in North Shields got some good news. A proposal by developers to build a multi-storey block of flats right on the banks of the Tyne failed to get approval.

This was a great victory for a community led campaign which has now been going for several years. As the local Member of Parliament I was pleased to be able to offer my advice and assistance.

From this success there are important lessons to be learnt. I hope they can be used to good effect in relation to another major planning application. Up at Wideopen builders want to put up no less than 575 homes – the majority of which will be on what is presently land designated as Greenfield.

Along with local councillor Muriel Green I am opposing this development. To put it simply, this is the wrong development in the wrong place.

Victory at the Royal Quays came about for two main reasons. First, the unsuitability of the actual location for the proposed development and, second, because of the strong opposition from local residents.

We now need to apply these to the situation at Wideopen. There can be little doubt that the building of 575 houses on what is presently open space will have a damaging effect on the local community and the natural environment.

Local residents are strongly opposed because they recognise that it will affect their quality of life. This will be a David and Goliath clash, with local people up against the might of two major house building companies.

But as the victory at Royal Quays shows, when local people get together – assisted by their local elected representatives – the tables can be turned and against the odds David can win.