A COMMUNITY’S campaign to block development on a popular meadow has succeeded.

Middlesbrough Council today announced that land proposed for development at Newfield Crescent in Acklam and to the west of Stainsby Road in the Ayresome ward will no longer be earmarked for housing.

The decision follows a large scale campaign that saw people from the area and elsewhere join together to stage a number of events and protests in opposition to the contentious plans.

Thousands of people raised their voices against proposals to build on the much-loved patch of land as part of Middlesbrough Council’s Local Plan, which has been used recreationally for decades.

At the end of a six-week consultation period, the council’s working group met to discuss the results and to decide the next steps.

Cllr Lewis Young, Middlesbrough Council’s Executive Member for Economic Development and Infrastructure, said: “We want to thank everyone who has taken part in the consultation process.

“Consultation is an important part of a Council’s decision-making process, and all of the responses we have received have helped shape our views on how best to deliver much needed housing in Middlesbrough.

“A consultation is very much a dialogue between Council, communities and other stakeholders, and this is proof, if ever it were needed, that we listen to the arguments and we listen to the concerns of individuals and communities, and seek to mitigate them as best as we can.”

He added: “In particular praise needs to be given to campaigners – and we would name Martyn Walker and those around him – for the positivity and passion they have shown for their cause with the land near Newfield Crescent.

“They have been supported by Middlesbrough MP Andy McDonald and ward councillors and we thank them as well for the arguments they have made on behalf of residents.

“The Council is committed to delivering those developments already identified in the adopted Local Plan, to ensure the town’s aspirations for housing growth continue to be met.”

Campaign spokesman Martyn Walker said he was thrilled that the protestors’ efforts had succeeded and said that the community had been brought closer together as a result.

He said they would now fight to have the land granted status as a village green in order to protect the area around Bluebell Beck, known as “the longest continuous walk in Middlesbrough”.

Mr Walker added: “The whole team thinks it’s great that the campaign has been successful.

“I think it is because we have approached it in a friendly, persistent and visible way – that’s why we’ve come up trumps.

“We saw the community come together and wake up to what they have on their doorsteps.

“It’s only when you stand to lose something sometimes that you realise how precious it is.”