SHOCKWAVES continue to be felt throughout Corbridge following the news that outline plans for the biggest housing development in the village in living memory have been approved.

Despite claims from objectors that the proposed access will put children’s safety at risk, the application by Gladman Developments for land off Milkwell Lane near Corbridge Middle School, was given the green light at County Hall in Morpeth last week.

The one and only access to the site, past the gates of the middle school and via the narrow Cow Lane, was an issue which several members of the strategic planning committee admitted was a cause for concern.

However, after reassurances were given by planning and highways officers that the applicant would need to take steps to widen part of Cow Lane, and adhere to more than 40 conditions, the committee voted 13-1 to approve the application.

A transport plan for construction traffic and a phasing plan, detailing the work expected to be undertaken at the site over a period of up to 10 years, are among the documents which would need to be approved before a future developer could begin building work.

Yet members of the community remain unconvinced.

A resident of Priory Gardens, where traffic will pass through to reach Cow Lane, said the news had come as a blow.

“I was very sad to hear it had been approved,” explained the homeowner, who asked not to be named.

“It is so obvious to everybody that lives here that it is an accident waiting to happen.

“I am dead against the whole thing.”

Jennifer Simpson was among the 95 objectors to the plan and also lives on Priory Gardens.

“I, like many others, am really concerned for the 300 plus children going into school every morning while hundreds of cars from the 233 homes are coming out.

“I’m involved with health walks and this also means the loss of a green route out of the village.”

Resident, Elaine Bolam, said: “I’ve lived here for more than 30 years and this is all the green land we have left.

“I want to know how the village will cope with the extra people – where will it leave the doctors and the schools?”

Businesswoman Kate Oliver, who is a partner in women’s fashion store Katie Kerr, admitted that most traders would naturally welcome more people in the village.

“We are very lucky to live in such a lovely place and we shouldn’t prevent others from having the same opportunity.

“But the fact is parking is already very difficult and I’m doubtful the village has the capacity to cope,” she said.

“We’ve just had these horrific floods and there are already problems with the drains down on Station Road, because they’re so old - a lot of them are Victorian.

“I also feel a lot of sadness that the area of land, which has been enjoyed by many people for walking over the years, will be lost.”