Housing estate name 'ignores local heritage'

Robert Smith says the development should be called Claxton Meadow

There are calls for the name of a new housing estate to be changed to reflect the "rich heritage" of the area.

Persimmon Homes has named the development, north of the A689 near Hartlepool, as Greatham Meadow.

However, the chair of a former residents' association, said it "disregards" the history of the local Claxton area and should be called Claxton Meadow.

A spokesperson for Persimmon Teesside said the name had taken inspiration from Greatham Beck watercourse.

The site, consisting of 316 properties, is phase one of five which will make up the landmark South West Extension development - a total of 1,260 new homes.

Robert Smith, chair of former Fens Residents' Association before it folded in 2020, said he had no overall objection to the scheme and his concerns were over the name.

Interpretation board

He told the Local Democracy Reporting Service the area's history went back "a long way" to the late 11th Century, with the Claxton family then being "lords of the manor" until the 15th Century.

"Even today we have Claxton Bank, Claxton Beck, the Claxton Medieval Moated Site, Claxton Grange and Claxton Farm," he said.

"This information and more could be displayed on an interpretation board so residents can appreciate the distinctive history of the area upon which their homes stand."

A spokesperson for Persimmon Teesside said it "will continue to keep residents and updated as the development progresses".

They added: "Named after Greatham Beck, which runs through the site, our Greatham Meadows development respects the area’s rich local heritage.

"We are pleased to be working with Hartlepool Council to deliver much-needed new homes."