3:30PM, Sun Feb 12, 2012

Wildlife Campaigners Fight Against Plans For New Homes In Gosforth

By Andy Hughes Location: Gosforth

Hundreds of wildlife campaigners marched across Tyneside to protest against plans to build around 600 homes on green belt land.

Crowds gathered on Sunday to object against the proposed development close to Gosforth Park Nature Reserve.

Members of the Save Gosforth Wildlife group claim the scheme will harm the nearby nature reserve.

The route started from the entrance to the nature reserve, then travelled through the proposed site on Salters Lane, down Heathery Lane, then towards South Gosforth, Jesmond Dene and Heaton Park, finishing in Ouseburn.

Organiser James Littlewood told Sky Tyne and Wear: "The scheme would be devastating for local wildlife."

Newcastle City Council says the population of Newcastle and Gateshead is expected to rise by as much as 500,000 by 2030. For this reason, the council says new houses will have to be built.

Coun Henri Murison, Newcastle City Council’s cabinet member for Quality of Life, said: “Our core strategy will try and avoid unrestrained development.

“Although we want to develop brownfield sites first, the extent of any even limited green belt development will be controversial - and not all the sites currently identified as possible ones will necessarily be finally developed if the people of the city feel certain sites are not on balance suitable."