Councillors say the new road is in no danger from erosion

Planners want the new southern radial route to hug the coastline near the Grangetown area of the city.

But residents claim part of the road - to be built on a raised embankment - will be unstable and could collapse into the sea.

They say coastal erosion is so bad in the area that the raised section of the new road will eventually fall into the sea.

A stretch of the planned route takes the road between a housing estate and the coast.

Sunderland City Council is carrying out a consultation process for the plans, which it has already revised once.

Council planners admit poor ground conditions mean the new road will have to be raised by at least 8.5 metres.

Phil Barratt, director of development and regeneration at Sunderland City Council, said: "This road will last for many, many years.

Outdated plans

"We anticipate that at the current level of coastal erosion the road will not be affected for at least 50 years."

But Helen Hunter, from Grangetown Residents against the Elevated Road, claims council planners are using outdated maps and plans.

She said: "We want the council to make an informed decision about this, but they can't if their plans are out of date.

"We need them to take into account the true position of the coast.

"Our measurements using a Global Positioning System (GPS) satellite, show up to 50 metres less coastline than the council think is there.

"We would like the council to consider alternative options like public transport rather than building another road."

More than 100 residents have sent letters to the council expressing concerns about the road.