Villagers 'hacked off' over repeated developments

1 hour ago

Jim ScottIn Springwell

News image — Thousands of tonnes of the Gateshead flyover were processed in Springwell Village

Springwell Village Residents Association A drone view which shows the scale of The Ashcourt Springwell Quarry, which is on the left and is made up of two large grey industrial-style metal buildings, and has large mounds of dirt. To the right of the quarry is a medium-sized housing estate featuring a mix of detached and semi-detached homes. There is also a large area of undeveloped land to the bottom right of the picture. — Thousands of tonnes of the Gateshead flyover were processed in Springwell Village

A group of residents say they are repeatedly having to fight plans for large-scale projects in what they call the most overdeveloped village in their area, with a concrete processing plant at one end and a large underground covered reservoir at the other.

People in Springwell Village near Sunderland said they had to deal with excessive dust and noise from approved developments.

Those living opposite Springwell Quarry said they also feared pollutants in the dust after the demolished Gateshead flyover was processed there.

The Ashcourt Group, which runs the quarry, said it "monitors dust levels in accordance with the planning conditions" and results show it was compliant.

Sunderland City Council said it was working with residents regarding concerns raised.

Since 2020, plans for several significant projects have been approved, including the creation of 75 homes, a 43,000,000 litre (9,000,000 gallon) reservoir and the continuation of operations at the quarry, which had been due to close in 2022.

The Springwell Village Residents Association (SVRA) said the village had become a target for cheap development at the expense of village life.

David Bain, who lives opposite the quarry on Railway Close, discovered through media reports that remnants of the 1960s-built Gateshead flyover would be processed there.

Residents in the area had believed the quarry would cease operations when its 20-year licence expired.

Bain said had he known work would continue he would not have purchased his home.

BBC/Jim Scott David Bain, who is a resident on Railway Close, stands wearing a blue T-shirt which has a white print showing a mountain and the sun. He is standing on a pavement where there is a grass verge. In the background is a detached home with two windows on the upper floor, and to the right is a wooden fence which has become faded in the sun, and separates the estate from the quarry. — David Bain said he would not have purchased his home if he had known the quarry would continue operating

The Environment Agency (EA) recently found the quarry failed to stick to dust-control measures and said it had taken action against the operator.

"My biggest fear is that there is things like silicates, because concrete has silicates in which is harmful to your lungs and, a few doors up, virtually everybody has small children," Bain said.

Although plans were approved for the continued waste recycling and concrete production at the quarry, three tall blue silos which are part of a further industrial facility were installed without planning permission.

An application for retrospective permission has been made.

Washington West Labour councillor Brandon Feeley said the silos "shouldn't have been allowed" to remain, and criticised quarry operators for applying to run the site from 0700 which he said disturbed neighbours.

BBC/Shaun Johnston Three large cylindrical blue silos, with a silver metal fence at the top and chimney in the middle of each one, stand tall above foliage and a number of trees in Springwell village. In the background are white clouds and a blue sky. — Three large silos at the quarry do not have planning permission, argue campaigners

Other approved projects include the reservoir on land off Mount Lane which was completed in May for Northumbrian Water (NWL).

Graeme Moffitt, who has lived in his home opposite the site for the last 32 years, said he had considered "walking away" if further applications are approved.

"It's a strong community but people are fed up with it," he said.

"It's just non-stop, on and on.

"The village, it's been attacked... I'm hacked off."

Campaigners previously told the BBC the reservoir was bigger than expected and have criticised NWL for changing plans for the surface to be covered in gravel, instead of grass, claiming it now resembles a car park.

Moffitt said: "We had grazing horses and really fantastic views and we've had, for the last four years, nothing but interruptions [from works].

NWL said it had "worked closely" with the community "keeping residents informed" and said the updated reservoir roof was "in line with industry guidance to protect water quality".

Parts of the village remain surrounded by greenbelt land but campaigners said it was a constant fight to protect that from development.

Springwell Village Residents Association (SVRA) vice chair Liz Reid said campaigners had successfully fought plans for 60,000 solar panels to be installed on greenbelt land off Fairhaven in 2025.

Days later, however, plans were submitted for land in front of the proposed solar farm to build up to 17 bungalows for those aged over 55.

New plans leave them thinking "oh not again", she said.

"Something happens almost every day that seems to attack the greenbelt here."

She said it was "pretty obvious the village is a target" because of the proximity to Sunderland and Newcastle and its cheaper land.

BBC/Jim Scott Liz Reid, who is wearing a white neck jumper, a beige and blue cardigan and a blue puffy jacket with a gold zip, stands in front of the land which is currently under a planning application for up to 17 new bungalows. In the background are several trees and a view looking towards the mouth of the River Tyne. — Liz Reid says it often feels that as soon as one application is refused, another is submitted

Reid accepted the accusation of being NIMBYs - coined for those opposed to developments from the phrase "not in my back yard" - was something "often levelled at us".

But she said the village had already seen "every bit of brownfield land" developed, which the SVRA was not against, and their current fight was about "getting the rules stuck to" regarding greenbelt land.

Sunderland City Council said: "All planning applications are consulted on and determined in line with local and national policies."

It had refused the solar panel farm in 2024, and the decision was upheld by the planning inspector, it said.

Gateshead Council, which commissioned the flyover demolition, said all materials containing asbestos had since been taken to separate facilities, and disposed "correctly".

BBC/Jim Scott The gravel-topped reservoir which residents say is now blocking what once as a view of the Wear Valley. It's a large expanse of ground, beige with gravel with dark blue fells beyond and a blue sky with white fluffy clouds. There are two operatives both wearing orange and yellow high visibility jackets near what look like white entrance hatches. In the foreground is a green fence and grass verge. — The roof of the reservoir has been covered with gravel instead of grass

The EA said remnants of the flyover were no longer being processed at the quarry but it understood the concerns of people living nearby and said they "should not have to put up with unacceptable impacts".

It had taken action against the operator, which included issuing an enforcement notice to "fix breaches of its permit", and was reviewing data after it "closely monitored dust levels".

The Ashcourt Group said environment consultants were monitoring to ensure no dust was escaping from the site and it had challenged the EA on its "regulatory notices".

The firm said it went "further than the planning permission conditions and environmental permit requirements" with live dust monitoring and its results showed levels for particulate matter and dust were within guidelines set by the Institute of Air Quality Management.

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