Decision day over special school extension

Members of Sheffield Council’s City Centre, South and East Planning Board will decide this afternoon whether to grant consent for both an extension to a special school in Bents Green, and the conversion of two shops on the High Street in Mosborough into fast food takeaways.

More than 60 people have signed a petition against plans for a conservatory extension to be built at the front of the recently-refurbished Bents Green Secondary Community Special School in Ringinglow Road.

Those who have signed the petition say that the site, on the south-western edge of Sheffield, is already overdeveloped and there is insufficient car parking space at the school, meaning that staff already park in both Ringinglow Road and nearby Folkwood Grove.

The petition states: “We regularly have more than 25 cars parked on the north side of the highway and some more on the grass verge on the south side.

“We are also told that the school is in the process of employing more staff for the residential part of the school, which will exacerbate the situation.

“We consider that the school is overdeveloped in that there is an inadequate on-site staff parking provision, unlike other schools in the area which have recently redeveloped with adequate staff parking.”

It adds: “We all feel that the situation is causing an unsafe situation to exist and it is made worse by residents who have to park their vehicles on the verges to avoid the staff parking and allow deliveries.

“Consequently, therefore, we are asking the planning committee to defer the consideration of the erection of the conservatory until the unacceptable parking situation is considered and adequately resolved.”

However, planning officials have described the proposed conservatory as a “minor addition” and have recommended that members give it their approval.

City planners say in the report set to go before today’s meeting: “It is understood that the proposed conservatory will not result in any increase in staff or pupil numbers and that the conservatory is purely to provide additional comfort space within the residential element of the school accommodation.

“In this regard therefore, officers do not feel that the proposed conservatory extension in itself will lead to any increase in traffic, and as such, officers feel that the proposal will not exacerbate or lead to detrimental harm in terms of highway safety.”

They add: “Officers do not consider that the proposal will have a direct or detrimental impact on the living conditions of nearby residents or on highway safety issues.”

At the same meeting, members of Sheffield Council will also consider two change of use applications to covert two vacant shops in High Street, Mosborough, into hot food takeaways.

A total of 65 letters of objection and a 70-signature petition have been submitted in opposition to the first application, for 44 High Street, while 50 letters and another 70-signature petition have been sent to Sheffield Council regarding the application for 48 High Street.

Opponents say that the takeaways will create a multitude of problems including parking issues, creating congestion, bad smells, litter and additional noise late at night.

MP Clive Betts, who has written on behalf of his constituents, said: “The opening hours could cause further disturbance for constituents at a time when shops in the vicinity are normally closed in the evening and at weekends.”