Plans for Langdale Drive temporary access route blocked

Councillors have refused permission for a temporary access road at a new housing development in Cramlington.

Barrett Homes had applied for permission for a route that would connect its new 715 home site with nearby Langdale Drive for a period of two years.

The application was recommended for approval by Northumberland County Council planners. However, members of the Cramlington, Bedlington and Seaton Valley Local Area Council felt that the applicant had not sufficiently demonstrated how it would keep walkers and cyclists using a right of way in the area safe.

Councillor Barry Flux, who is a Langdale Drive resident and county councillor for the Cramlington West division, led the call for his colleagues to block the application saying “I’m very disappointed that it is here. In my mind, the highways impacts are large enough for this to be refused.”

Councillor Wayne Daley said: “I can’t go to the public and say I’m going to support something, but I don’t know if it is going to be safe or if it is going to work. That is unacceptable to me.”

“It would be putting the people going to buy houses ahead of those in the community. I’m extremely uncomfortable about this.”

Councillors voted to reject the plans by four votes to two with three Cramlington and one Seaton Valley councillor rejecting, and two Bedlington councillors voting to approve the application.

Cramlington Town Council previously objected to the application on the grounds that it would cause unacceptable disturbance to residents and concerns over the safety of the proposal.

Speaking after the meeting, Councillor Flux said: “The committee have made the right decision for the residents of Beaconhill and I am glad they listened to that large level of concerns that local residents have. The proposed road crossing over a cycle path and close to a school with views obscured by the garage block would be an accident waiting to happen.”