Liberal Democrat councillors in Worrall have vowed to continue their campaign against proposed housing on green sites, after council figures revealed that 95% of local people opposed the plan.
The figures were released by Sheffield City Council following consultation on future sites for housing, including proposals that green land at Worrall Hall Farm and Wiggan Farm, both in Worrall, be allocated for new housing.
However, residents were left outraged by the proposals, as many feared for road safety, local schools and the local environment and ecology. In the consultation, 95% of respondents lodged objections to the plans.
Yet, despite the overwhelming objections, Labour councillors look set to approve the strategy, when it is brought before the Council’s Cabinet in the autumn.
Cllr David Baker, local Liberal Democrat councillor for Stannington, which includes Worrall, said:
“I’ve spoken to many members of the local community and I share their concerns about building on green spaces in our area. There are very serious fears about the impact this could have on the local environment – not to mention the local roads and schools.
“I’m shocked that Labour councillors have not responded to the comments made by Worrall residents during the consultation. I’m concerned that they are now considering plans to force this strategy through and disregard local opposition.
“We’ll continue to campaign to ensure Labour aren’t allow to get away with this plan.”
Disgraceful NIMBYism from my own party. Of course the majority of current residents are opposed, as they don’t directly get anything out of it. Future residents don’t get a vote and wouldn’t reward you when they do.
Are you pleased that young people can only look back with envy at the prices that older generations paid for housing just 15 years ago (less than a third of current prices)? And of course this means that the cost of renting is also sky high. Current home owners also have to help cover their children’s costs, while high property prices are partly passed on to them in higher labour costs.
Lib Dems should be promoting solutions that suit everyone. Use the huge profits from granting planning permission (and future tax revenue) to entirely cancel council tax for those people affected for a few years, or invest in local services.
Short-termist, parochial nimbyism that could just as easily be written by any party against any other. This is why housing is now unaffordable.
Hi Adam – Thanks for your comments.
We are not against building new homes in Sheffield, in fact we believe it’s an important priority for Sheffield. However, we don’t think those new homes should come at the expense of treasured green spaces, when there are other more appropriate sites across the city. Local people were overwhelmingly clear in their opposition to these proposals.
The problems in terms of housing in Sheffield do not relate to a lack of appropriate land. Sheffield, for example, has 6,500 empty homes, which could be brought up to lettable standard. We urged the Council to use Government investment and new powers to bring these homes back into use. Unfortunately, Labour politicians refused to back this plan.