Hexham MP Guy Opperman has called on residents in Tynedale and Ponteland to support his petition to protect their Greenbelt land. This follows Labour leader Keir Starmer's Party Conference speech in which he committed the party to higher building targets and concreting over England's Greenbelt.

Under the previous Labour administration at County Hall, Northumberland Labour tried to pass a planning document which would have allowed developers to concrete over much of the county's green space. The controversial proposal for Dissington Garden Village would have built 2000 houses near Ponteland and would have irreversibly changed the county's landscape had Northumberland Conservatives not halted Labour's plan.

Guy said:

"This week, Sir Keir Starmer, the Labour Party leader, doubled down on his commitment to building on the nation's Greenbelt. Furthermore, he vowed to override local opposition.

"Working with the local community and Ponteland’s Conservative Councillors, we stopped Labour’s last attempt to surround Ponteland and develop our Greenbelt. We cannot allow Labour’s plans for Ponteland to go ahead!

"But we need your help. If you want Tynedale and Ponteland's Greenbelt to stay green, sign the petition HERE."