LEADERS have promised to listen to worries over a new spine road earmarked to cut through a country park. 

The new Stainsby vision aims to create an estate with orchards, a community hub, cycle lanes and a visitor centre on 140 hectares east of the A19 in Middlesbrough.

But a north-south spine road in the 1,670 home master plan has drawn criticism and fresh concern from campaigners and some councillors. 

Martyn Walker, from campaign group Greenstuff, told the Local Democracy Reporting Service he had real concerns about the busy road going across land owned by the people of Middlesbrough.

“The projections show there’d be thousands of cars a day going down that road,” he added.

Middlesbrough Council’s executive agreed to launch yet another consultation for the revised master plan on Tuesday.

Past versions of the vision had earmarked 100 homes on Mandale Meadow – and leaders hailed how this had been removed from the latest blueprints. 

Cllr Ashley Waters claimed the new vision was “absolutely brilliant” compared to the past vision – telling colleagues the country park would be 54 per cent green space and a “first for the North-East”. 

The executive member for regeneration said: “It’s going to be a fantastic area for the people of Middlesbrough to come and live. 

“It will be an attraction to go hand in hand with the urban development in the town.

“We took Mandale Meadow – the council owned piece of land – out of that master plan to protect it for the community of Middlesbrough.

“It’s something which is precious and needs to be preserved.”

The proposed scheme in West Middlesbrough sits on land running parallel with the A19 – and was approved for up to 1,670 homes as part of the authority’s 2014 local plan. 

A country park was in the previous incarnations of the master plan – with the location of the controversial spine road tweaked in 2019. 

Middlesbrough Mayor Andy Preston was elected in May last year with a pledge to pause building on green land. 

Deputy mayor Antony High said building on Mandale had been a sensitive topic in the run up to the 2019 elections. 

He said he’d known and loved the area in his Ayresome ward all his life – believing a lot of effort had gone into the new plan.

He told colleagues the past vision was “far too expansive” on green spaces and believed “huge progress” had been made.

However, Cllr High aired his concerns about the spine road in the master plan – saying he would “challenge” it, as well the access at Mandale Interchange. 

“I hope the people of Middlesbrough and those in surrounding wards will voice their concerns effectively if they share that view too,” added Cllr High. 

The spine road and its northern exit at the Mandale Interchange drew criticism this week from Thornaby’s mayor Steve Walmsley – with worries the town would bear the brunt of thousands of cars heading north towards the A19 and A66. 

Trimdon councillor Dennis McCabe aired strong feelings about the original plans in 2018 – fearing a lack of infrastructure for homes.

The executive member for the environment was a fan of the updated plan but still had misgivings about the north-south road.

Cllr McCabe said: “In the past, we’ve had some problems with travellers – opening that road on the plan would be an invite to them again.

“We’ve also got a major problem with drug running through the area on motorbikes and quad bikes.”

Between 18,000 and 25,000 new trees and shrubs have been lined up across the 140 hectare site this time around. 

The committee heard how developers who would help foot the bill for facilities in the country park.

Cllr Waters said: “We have to make sure the things we’ve promised are the things we’ll deliver with the developer. 

“We’ll work hand in hand with them to make sure this is one of the best housing sites in the North-East of England.”

Mr Preston told the panel developers “would have to put something in” for the facilities on the estate.

He urged people to share their views and promised the council would listen given the “sensitivity” about the spine road.

The mayor added: “This is not about us saying this is happening – this is about us saying if someone wants to build houses, they’re going to have to spend a lot of money creating a fantastic country park.

After the meeting, Labour councillor Denise Rooney said the country park proposals had sparked strong feelings – and accused council leaders of “sneaking it out before Christmas”. 

“The housing development cannot go ahead without proper infrastructure being put in place,” added the member for Ayresome.

“Politicians need to start being straight with residents. 

“I would urge all residents to make sure their views are heard.”