Plans for a 96 home housing estate have left a community divided.
Residents are up in arms after a piece of land, off Thornley Road, in West Denton, was sold by Newcastle City Council to housing developer Keepmoat Homes for the nominal sum of £1.
Its feared that the new estate could help exacerbate existing anti-social behavioural problems should more families with teenagers move into the area.
Recent events involving machetes and a hammer have put a strain on police services and many residents leave in fear and say 'no one would be in their right mind' to buy a home in this area.
Wendi Pyer has lived overlooking the field for more than 16 years and suffers from anxiety.
She specifically chose a home with open space which she claims will be destroyed by the development.
Ms Pyer, of Denton and Westerhope Residents' Association, said: "Taking away open spaces that kids use is simply just throwing them on to the streets to run amok and creating more problems for the already stretched police force with even more anti-social behaviour.
"We believe bringing more families into an already stressed and stretched area is just asking for more trouble. Then when there are empty houses those kids known to police will just vandalise those properties and the circle will continue."
For many residents the community field is the only place to meet people and the way they can interact with others whilst walking their dogs.
Residents claim that there are already long waits for GP appointments and school places and argued that the land should be preserved as a greenspace and homes should be built in areas already earmarked for development.
Nicola Murphy said: "I've been reading through the traffic survey regarding the new estate.
"From their measurements provided, Byrness is not wide enough for emergency services to access the new site."
A Newcastle City Council spokesperson said: "Following a tender process, an agreement is in place to sell the land to a developer for housing, but this is subject to planning permission being granted.
"Our planning process will only approve applications that bring real benefits to residents. Local facilities, site access, safety of residents, open spaces and community safety are all important considerations in the planning process. As is the case for any planning application, all representations are considered before any decision is taken.
"Our aim is to provide affordable and sustainable housing in Newcastle, but this will not be to the detriment of new and existing residents. As this is a live planning application, it would be inappropriate to comment further on the specific concerns raised at this time."
The deadline for submitting objections is Saturday February 22. Go to the Denton and Westerhope Residents Association Facebook page for more information.
