Green light recommended for veterans village, despite residents pleas to save community greenpace

Plans for a £8m veterans village look set to get the go-ahead, despite residents’ last-ditch pleas to save their community greenspace.
Veterans Janet and Terry Mitchell, on Garrowby Orchard in Hull, the proposed site for the Veterans Village Picture: Gary LongbottomVeterans Janet and Terry Mitchell, on Garrowby Orchard in Hull, the proposed site for the Veterans Village Picture: Gary Longbottom
Veterans Janet and Terry Mitchell, on Garrowby Orchard in Hull, the proposed site for the Veterans Village Picture: Gary Longbottom

East Riding councillors are being recommended to give the Hull4Heroes’ scheme the green light at a meeting next Thursday.

It comes after the Secretary of State confirmed that the plans would not be called in for a public inquiry.

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Hull councillors have already given their backing, but the proposals need the support of East Riding councillors, as the land straddles the boundary between the two authorities.

Janet and Terry Mitchell who are concerned about the loss of the community greenspaceJanet and Terry Mitchell who are concerned about the loss of the community greenspace
Janet and Terry Mitchell who are concerned about the loss of the community greenspace

As well as 48 homes, the plans include horticultural and mess facilities, workshops, café and market farm shop, as well as a raised mound, with a “skydome” on top.

The plans have proved controversial as the site off Coronation Road North includes a community greenspace where more than 5,000 trees have been planted.

Two fields, which form part of the Priory Meadows Local Wildlife Site, and have not been ploughed since the mid 19th century, will also be developed.

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There are less than 25,000 acres of ancient grassland surviving in the country, and the Yorkshire Wildlife Trust has described the site as an “irreplaceable habitat”.

Locals say woodpeckers, kingfishers, great crested newts, over wintering snipe, grass snakes and deer can all be found in a community orchard on the site.

However those who back the scheme say there is a moral obligation to support veterans, whose “selfless bravery” should not be forgotten, but who can struggle when they make the transition back to civilian life.

One supporter stated: “Needs and rights of veterans should have primacy”.

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However some veterans have objected including Terry Mitchell, who volunteers for Hull Veterans Support Centre, but has also raised money for Hull4Heroes in the past.

A couple of years ago he walked in full kit from the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in Westminster Abbey to Hull's Paragon Station, raising £4,000, of which £500 went to Hull4Heroes.

Mr Mitchell, who served in the Armed Forces, said the greenspace was crucial when he was recovering from being badly injured at work

He said: “The locals are losing not gaining. Go for a brownfield site instead.

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“People keep on bringing up Nick Knowles but people don’t realise it’s going to be a gated, locked up place.

“The walk has gone, the peace and tranquillity has gone.

“There’s no way the locals can gain out of this at all.”

Hull4Heroes was set up by ex-soldier Paul Matson who returned to Hull after working on the BBC’s DIY SOS creating a “Veterans’ Street” in Manchester.

The programme’s presenter Nick Knowles told city councillors earlier this year that the scheme would fit into the city’s tradition of helping veterans.

Hull Council's ecology department said a "significant, but unspecified" number of trees will have to be moved to accommodate the development and there does not appear to be the space to transplant all the trees.

Sport England have objected to the loss of 4.3 hectares of former school playing fields, leading to the potential call-in.

But the agenda for next week’s meeting confirms this will not now happen.

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