Village residents’ association renews calls to stop new homes on outskirts of Washington

Established in 1975, Springwell Village Residents’ Association (SVRA), was set up with the aim to help maintain and improve facilities in the small village, which is on the outskirts of Washington.

The association’s latest campaign is to protect the green belt land surrounding the village.

Hellens Group has acquired 30 acres of green belt land near the busy A194 road and is expected to submit a formal application to build new houses to Sunderland City Council in the coming months.

Bosses at the company say that without further growth in the village, shops, services and the school could become unsustainable.

Last month, members of SVRA gathered a 900-strong signature petition, which was handed to deputy leader of the council and Washington councillor, Harry Trueman, while more than 400 pledges of support have been acknowledged via an online petition.

Chairman Angela Templeman said: “We have an overwhelming level of support from residents who are disturbed about the proposed plans to build on the green belt land surrounding the village.

“As a community, we are extremely concerned about the impact a new development will have, not only regarding the infrastructure and how the current road structure will cope, but also the many road safety issues implicated, in addition to environmental and health matters, as a result of added pollution through increased traffic and congestion.”

One of the association’s most recent successes is the refurbishment and improvement of a children’s play area in the heart of the village on Seldom Seen.

Designed by Sunderland City Council and funded by SITA Trust, work to the new play area consisted of minor earthworks to form mounds for a cableway and slides, construction of a new access footpath and the installation of play equipment, including a spire net, zip wire, slides and springer-based play products.

Since completion of works on site in August 2014, the new facilities and updated play equipment has been given the thumbs-up from both children and young people in the area.

Angela added: “The refurbishment of Seldom Seen play area is a perfect example of what SVRA has and will continue to achieve on behalf of the people of our village.”