£8m road over playing fields is 'unacceptable'

OPPONENTS to a planned link road which will serve a new development of houses and offices in Waverley, on the former Orgreave colliery site, were set to hold a public meeting last night.

The meeting, at Woodhouse Mill Working Men’s Club, was called by Clive Betts MP and a group of Rotherham councillors after both Sheffield and Rotherham’s planning committees gave backing to the Waverley scheme.

Both councils have approved the development, which will involve almost 4,000 new homes together with community and leisure facilities, as well as an adjoining office park which will be developed by specialist firm Helical Governetz.

But objectors say that plans for an 8m link road to the site, which will go through Waverley to join the Sheffield Parkway, are “simply unacceptable” as the road would be built on an area of council-owned playing fields.

Mr Betts said: “Despite the recent decisions of Sheffield and Rotherham Councils about the Waverley development, it is inevitable that the proposals will have to be considered by the Secretary of State.

“The development proposals are by no means done and dusted.

“The recent behaviour of both Rotherham and Sheffield councils on this proposal is simply unacceptable. Rotherham Council must now undertake a full and comprehensive consultation on its road proposals.

“Sheffield Council must immediately stop colluding with Rotherham Council until a full consultation has taken place and re-affirm that these playing fields are not for sale.”

The Waverley site, which is on the Rotherham side of the Rotherham/Sheffield boundary, is owned by Harworth Estates, the land-ownership arm of mining company UK Coal.

The new town proposals involve 3,950 houses, two primary schools, small shops, a food store, pubs, restaurants, a transport interchange with a park and ride facility and open space, including a woodland and lakes.

A dedicated website set up by Harworth Estates and UK Coal says that the planned development at Waverley will “transform a disused and reclaimed industrial brownfield site in the heart of South Yorkshire into a thriving new community”.