By ROBERT GIBSON

Last updated 15:31, Thursday, 26 June 2008

IT may be normal for large-scale proposals to meet some opposition, but the hostility to the Duke of Northumberland’s plans has been exceptional.

Over 4,000 objections to the scheme in its original form poured in, and there was little enthusiasm for retractions even after major revision.

For many, Tynedale Council’s approval of the plans signals the end of businesses on Front Street, numerous problems with traffic and noise, and an unacceptable blight on the landscape.

Leading the opposition has been Prudhoe Traders’ Association, whose chairman, John Short, has contacted the Government Office for the North East about how the application had been handled.

He argues that development control officers relied on an out-of-date report that was “heavily flawed” and unrepresentative of Prudhoe today.

There is no proven need for a supermarket the size of the one proposed, he says, and existing retail businesses on Front Street will be adversely affected by the disproportionate plans.

The allotment land to be used for housing, meanwhile, is categorised as greenfield, and thus all proposed residential properties – rather than just 20 per cent – should be affordable housing.

In any case, a five-storey block of flats would be built too close to Prudhoe Castle, and repeated surveys have shown that the area can not cope with any more traffic.

Mr Short, who addressed Monday’s meeting of Tynedale Council’s planning committee, also believes there are major flaws in the logic governing the introduction of acoustic barriers at Cranleigh Grove and Neale Street.

The development control committee, he pointed out, had refused an application for a six foot high fence in Hexham in February, and policy should be consistent.

Speaking after the meeting, he challenged Coun. Lorna Garrett’s point that many people lived close to busy roads.

“Those people in Cranleigh Grove bought houses there because of the quiet nature of the area and the views,” he said.

“That is all about to change.”

The meeting also heard from Cranleigh Grove resident Fred Bowler, who said that local planning policy states developments should be in the public interest.

Keith Minton, of Tynedale Language Services on Front Street, likewise referred to a potential “walled city” and argued that Prudhoe did not have the infrastructure to cope with the development.

Dan Gregg, a consultant working on behalf of the Co-operative Group, was even more direct – Prudhoe’s Co-op could be forced to close, as could other businesses.

The comments were supported by ward councillor, and Prudhoe town mayor, Jennifer McGee, who said: “I don’t think anybody is against development or against change, but this development in its entirety is not the right development for the town.”