South Tyneside

Press release: Happy Birthday Greenbelt - hope you have many more

South Tyneside Friends of the Earth say that the best way to celebrate the birthday of the greenbelt would be for South Tyneside Council to call a halt to all plans to build on greenbelt land in the area. On August 3 1955, Duncan Sandys, the Conservative housing minister, issued planning circular 42/1955, which allowed local authorities across the country to surround towns and cities with land protected from development.

Bryan Atkinson, South Tyneside FOE spokesperson said:

"This week marks fifty years of the greenbelt policy. This has protected greenbelt not only as a method of providing a distinct separation of towns and cities, but to provide a green visual amenity for all. Unfortunately, South Tyneside Council don't have a good record here and have regularly supported plans to concrete our green areas.

"In particular, plans to drive a dual carriageway through the East Boldon greenbelt and proposals for the construction of a business park on the greenbelt next to the Fellgate estate are especially worrying. 

"The council's cavalier attitude to our green space assets like Fellgate is all the more shocking considering the empty business premises all over the borough and the recent release of brownfield land in Hebburn for housebuilding.

"South Tyneside Council should drop plans to build on areas like East Boldon and Fellgate immediately and ensure that our irreplaceable greenbelt will see many more birthdays."

Contacts

Bryan Atkinson 0779 257 9827
Brian Paget: 0794 715 2782

or email: stfoe@negg.org

Notes

1. South Tyneside FOE online: http://www.stfoe.org.uk/
2. FOE England, Northern Ireland & Wales: http://www.foe.co.uk/
3. The Big Ask: http://www.thebigask.com

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