The huge Northumberland Line project has hit another major milestone, with every new railway station for the scheme now having won approval from planners.
County councillors gave their backing on Tuesday evening for the last of six calling points that will be constructed under the massive transport investment, this one being at Newsham in Blyth.
Planning permission had already been granted for five other stations – at Northumberland Park, Seaton Delaval, Blyth Bebside, Bedlington and Ashington.
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Passenger services are due to be restored to the railway line from December 2023 or early 2024, with the main construction starting this summer, and will allow for a new half hourly train running between Newcastle and Ashington.
The railway line was formerly known as the Ashington, Blyth and Tyne Line and had its passenger routes axed in 1964, though freight trains have continued to use it.
The proposals approved by Northumberland County Council’s planning committee on Tuesday will see a new station built on land south of the A1061 South Newsham Road, one described as the “most ambitious” of the six sites.
It will have two platforms, car parking on both sides of the railway line with up to 237 spaces, and will require the realignment of the A1061 – including construction of a new overbridge.
A total of 10 objections against the project were lodged by neighbours ahead of Tuesday’s hearing.
They raised concerns including commuter traffic parking on surrounding streets, an increase in noise and anti-social behaviour, and the loss of open green belt land used by walkers, cyclists and horse riders.
Liberal Democrat councillor Jeff Reid, who abstained on the vote to approve the plans, branded the station as something that was “visionary in its destruction of people’s quiet enjoyment of their home”, claiming that the railway project was a “waste of £135m”.
Independent councillor Georgina Hill replied that following Coun Reid’s logic, however, would mean that there would be no railways at all.
Conservative Barry Flux agreed that the station would be “more transformative than disruptive” for residents due to the significant public transport improvements, calling the development a “Rolls Royce solution”.
Northumberland Line programme delivery director Neil Blagburn said: “This is another major milestone for the project and paves the way for the main construction work to start in the coming months.
“Work to replace the track started on the line last year and other preparations, such as clearing vegetation and mining remediation are getting underway on parts of the line ahead of the main construction starting on this transformational project - which will bring about new opportunities for work, education and leisure in this part of the county and the wider region.”
The site of the proposed Newsham station is located around 700m south of the original station that served the area between 1851 and 1964, when it was closed as part of the Beeching cuts.
