Link road scheme in doubt as playing fields protected

A NEW route may have to be found for a proposed link road on the Sheffield/Rotherham border if plans to give Woodhouse Mill playing fields trust status as part of the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee are agreed next week.
By The Newsroom
Published 19th Jan 2012, 06:00 BST

Rotherham Council has drawn up plans for the Waverley Link Road, which would connect Woodhouse Mill with a planned new town on the site of the former Orgreave pit.

However, the link road scheme has been criticised by both Sheffield’s current Labour council and the previous Lib Dem administration, as the proposed route runs across playing fields at Woodhouse Mill - which Sheffield Council owns.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

At next week’s cabinet committee meeting, Sheffield Council is set to agree plans to protect the playing fields under the Queen Elizabeth II Fields scheme.

The scheme, which is being promoted by Prince William, aims to preserve existing playing fields and create new ones.

The move would mean the council would formally designate the site as a Queen Elizabeth II field in conjunction with the Fields In Trust charity, giving it protection from development.

Coun Bryan Lodge, deputy leader of Shefifeld Council said: “There has been a lot of campaigning by residents to keep it as a playing field as it is popular with local people.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

“And I am glad to say that this protected status will now mean that the grounds will remain as playing fields for future generations to use.”

Nobody from Rotherham Council was available to comment on the move yesterday.

Related topics:RotherhamSheffieldRotherham CouncilSheffield CouncilQueen