On 4 September, Newcastle City Council published a planning application to build on South Gosforth Green. This application is for 7 bungalows in a courtyard arrangement with parking and an access road from Ridgewood Gardens to the north. The facilities proposed, to support people with physical disabilities and those with learning disabilities and/or autism, are undoubtably a good thing. On the other hand, if approved, this development will lead to the irreversible loss of part of the green currently available and of benefit to the wider community. So while we support the creation of such a facility we do have concerns about the use of this location and the precedent this may set to allow building on other green space. Read more [...]