I would love to know where these 'developers' live. I wonder if they would like their local, beautiful green space 'developing'. Do they understand that they aren't simply doing away with some trees and open space. They're destroying the routine of countless people who have enjoyed the area for many years, and will do so for more years to come - and with it they're destroying the trigger of happy memories.

Im sorry if I appear selfish when I talk about my personal experience here but the point I wish to make is that it is not only I who have fond and endearing memories of Longridge Woods.

I was moved to the area when I was two years old by my parents. As I grew up, my friends and I would go to Longridge Woods and Eagle Park to make dens and play games before it was 'developed'. We loved it. We would spend our weekends and school holidays there, and the time would fly by, only coming home at dusk to get into trouble with our parents for the disheveled and filthy state in which we returned! As I write this I'm smiling to myself!
Over time the developers came along and the areas in which to enjoy our weekends got smaller and smaller. Although I grew out of building dens some years ago(!), it has always struck me that the only place left for the children of today in that area is Longridge Woods, and no offence intended if you live there, to add insult to injury, some of the roads that were once the rolling hills that I remember are called The Meadows and The Pastures! Yes, they were meadows and pastures once up on a time! My experience as a child is only tiny fragment of the pleasure as one of the people who have been or still are associated with Longridge Woods - one humble opinion from one of the three-dozen or so people I grew up with who I know personally that used, and still use that area, all of which are now into adulthood, and who now take their children there, and the generations ahead of mine who have, and continue take enormous pleasure from the area on a daily basis. How can 'developers' mount a plausible argument against such history and future, and how can any local authority take such an argument and embrace it, undermining the people who really care about their history and future? It beggars belief. Then again does it? Money talks.
I'm now twenty-nine and live at the other end of the country, but I get back home whenever I can, and I love it back home so much - because of the open space. I heard only recently of the plans to demolish the last remaining green haven and despite the fact that I am no longer local, it saddens me deeply. I sincerely hope that success is met in retaining what is left of such a lovely, joy-bringing piece of landscape. Count me in for the fight.

NEW BOOK Mayor Ray Mallon does not want you to read and council controlled Libraries refuse put on show!!!

Up the Boro A Critique of Middlesbrough's political class 1829-2007

Complied by local activist Gordon Shippey

ISBN: 9781847474681
Published: 2007
Pages: 152
Key Themes: law, social care, pathfinder, environmental issues, campaigning, investigative journalism, politics from J.Pease to R.Mallon!

buy from WHSMITHS & Waterstones called for £10.

Why not build on the many brownfield sites along the river and regenerate a negleted area?.I feelthe Marton /Coulby area is residential enough.This is the type of decision that typefies Middlesbrough council.

Good Luck with your Village Green application. Bulldozing this lovely established wood to make way for more housing and the associated traffic problems that would cause is a crime. Yes, I'll be at the Public Inquiry.

Hope you ae winning there are so many of who use this site that we cannot afford to lose it.

Good Luck and thank you for all you have done up to now.