RESIDENTS outraged at developers moving in to change their leafy suburb are battling back.
They are fighting moves to demolish a unique art deco house in up-market Nunthorpe.
It’s feared Rest Harrow — built for Mr Carter of the Carter Bequest Hospital — will be knocked down to make way for a large nursing home.
A 2,800-signature petition objecting to the house in Guisborough Road being bulldozed by developers, has been handed to Cllr Dave Budd, Middlesbrough Council executive member for regeneration.
Campaigner and long-time Nunthorpe resident Lesley Tomlinson said: “It would be a travesty if this house was demolished.
“Nunthorpe residents are outraged at the plan to demolish this house.�
The fight to preserve the rare period property comes hot on the heels of a successful bid to save Red Cottage, a historic house in the same road.
Residents believe the character of their area is threatened as it becomes a target for “inappropriate� developments.
Nunthorpe residents’ group are fighting two planning applications for the Rest Harrow site.
One would see the classic 1930s style, green-roofed house replaced by a big care home.
The other would be to keep the house and build three large properties in the grounds.
Residents say the nursing home would be out of scale and character with the area.
It would also greatly increase traffic on busy Guisborough Road where traffic calming measures are now being put in place.
Lesley Tomlinson, above, said: “Rest Harrow is a unique period property and an important building in the area.�
“This is a pleasant and leafy residential area of Middlesbrough and a desirable place to live.
“The Nunthorpe community see it as being increasingly under threat from developers preying on its heritage and character.�
She said campaigners were encouraged by moves to develop a “parish plan� setting out the community’s vision for Nunthorpe over the next decade — a first in Middlesbrough.
Volunteer Chris Flynn, whose home will not be directly affected by the new development, said: “Our research with Middlesbrough Social Services has shown no evidence of any need for another nursing home in Nunthorpe.�
And another volunteer, Catherine O'Brien, said: “Development could mean the look and feel of Nunthorpe being wiped out.�
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I am glad to see the residents of Nunthorpe standing up for themselves and their village.
It is about time Middlesbrough Council woke up and valued the whole town which includes the leafy suburbs. In the past important buildings in the town centre have been lost due to a lack of planning and foresight on the councils part.
They must not sit back and let various developers move in and destroy the heritage and beauty of the Nunthorpe area by knocking down well established properties in large grounds and building care/nursing homes or multi occupancy flats. It is the responsibility of Middlesbrough Council Planning to protect this village and not allow it to be decimated by these inapproriate developments. Mayor Mallon bleats about the "Marton Crawl", well these developments would only add to the traffic problems. Mind you if Mayor Mallon gets his way with the East Middlesbrough by-pass, the Redcar & Cleveland side of Nunthorpe will be split in half anyway, but that doesn't seem to bother him.