Objectors fear cemetery could have impact on housing plans

Residents in Amble, who began fighting the plans for homes at Gloster Hill in December 2014.

As reported by the Gazette in December, a revised bid for more than 40 homes on land at Gloster Hill in the seaside town has been submitted to the county council.

The first application, which dates back to December 2014, was for 44 properties, including 10 affordable homes. It sparked a number of objections on grounds such as flooding, access and wildlife.

In April last year, the county council said that the former application had a number of issues.

Now, residents fighting the schemes have expressed concerns that groundwater on the new development would be contaminated by Amble West Cemetery, which is up-slope from the site.

They are building a case and are looking at the developers’ site survey, historical maps showing wells and springs, as well as a recent study by the town council into water coming to the surface at the allotments which are also down-slope of the cemetery.

However, while some of the new homes would be closer to the cemetery, it is also worth noting that existing homes at Mariners View are also down-slope of the cemetery.

The revised bid is for a total of 42 homes. Land to the south of Mariners View would feature 14 houses, six two-bedroom affordable bungalows and four two-bedroom private bungalows, This section has been redesigned so that the bungalows are on the northern side.

The existing Gloster Hill Farm steading, north of Mariners View, would be converted into six houses with a further 12 built on that site.