- Local Rother Valley MP Alexander Stafford, a fierce advocate for the protection of the green belt, has spoken out against the proposal to develop 450 new homes on green belt land in Whiston
- Alexander raised concern about the lack of weight given to resident's concerns as expressed in the consultation process carried out by Labour-run RMBC
Alexander Stafford, local MP for Rother Valley, has spoken out against the plans to build 450 new homes on green belt land in Whiston.
Expressing concern about the lack of fair consultation with residents, Alexander, who himself objected to this development, hit out at Labour-run RMBC, saying that not enough was done to engage with residents and criticising the planning department for riding roughshod over their views.
The 50-acre site, just off Lathe Road and Woorygoose Lane, has been earmarked for the development of 450 dwellings, despite being previously categorised as green belt land. Alexander has joined his constituents in raising concerns about flooding, which is already a problem at Whiston Brook, and transport. There is concern that Woorygoose roundabout, which the council acknowledge requires around £1million of upgrades, will not be able to support the significantly increased traffic associated with the development.
The plans have attracted a raft of objections, and Alexander is calling on the council to prioritise the use of brownfield sites to build the homes needed in Rother Valley.
Commenting, Alexander said:
Along with hundreds of local residents, I objected to these proposals to build 450 homes on green belt land without a formal transport assessment and no consideration given to existing problems with flooding at Whiston Brook.
Labour-run Rotherham Council chose to ignore this consultation and all the concerns raised to push ahead with the development, riding roughshod over the views of residents.
We do need new homes here in Rother Valley, there is no getting away from that, but we need the right sort of houses (affordable housing, bungalows etc) and developers need to look to brownfield sites first. Rotherham Council have a duty to ensure that brownfield sites are developed rather than concreting over our beautiful green spaces.
