Councillor dismayed over planning decision

Town Councillor Mark Swinburn (pictured) has expressed disappointment over Northumberland County Council’s decision to approve a housing application on the former St. Paul’s school site.

Cramlington Town Council had no objections in principal to the development of the site for housing but access concerns included the fact that the route already experiences significant congestion owing to on-street parking and traffic that was associated with the school but would now arise from the new houses.

Residents were also concerned over the potential road safety issues given that children are known to play on the street leading to the school entrance. Concerns were also raised over the access on to Dudley Lane during peak times.

The Town Council urged the applicant to consider an access utilising the “old road” providing access to the new housing from the Dudley Lane roundabout. They felt this would avoid the need to access the site via Doddington Drive.

For these reasons the Town Council strongly opposed any development that accessed the site via Doddington Drive.

Mark Swinburn, Councillor for the Village Ward had asked the planning committee to  think carefully about the effects on the community with this application and reiterated his belief in the importance of stakeholder engagement and the value of local knowledge and involvement.

He said ” I am dismayed with this decision and feel that the genuine and legitimate concerns of local residents, that were supported by the Town Council, have not been given the consideration that they warranted.”

Pictured: The former school site.