Hundreds drop in at Kiveton plan event

Nearly 200 people came to see proposals for future development in Kiveton and the surrounding area, as part of Rotherham Council’s Local Plan consultation.
Kiveton Park and Wales residents view Rotherham Councils draft plan for development for the next 15 yearsKiveton Park and Wales residents view Rotherham Councils draft plan for development for the next 15 years
Kiveton Park and Wales residents view Rotherham Councils draft plan for development for the next 15 years

Kiveton Park and Wales Village Hall was packed full of people for much of the day on Tuesday with people eager to ask questions.

The council is in the middle of a 10 week consultation on its draft Local Plan, which will guide how many houses are built, and where, over the next 15 years.

The draft plan for Kiveton and Wales shows land allocated off Stockwell Avenue for 268 homes, and 14 homes at the top of Hard Lane.

Two large swathes of greenbelt land, capable of hosting 357 houses, are marked as ‘safeguarded’ against development until after 2028.

And 19 hectares of land could be made available to extend the Waleswood industrial estates for employment use.

“I want Kiveton to remain a village, not turned into a town,” said one resident who wished not to be named.

“They have built enough here over the years and it’s just right now. Any more would be too much.”

The controversial proposal to allocate land for a gypsy and traveller site off Dog Kennel Hill was also a hot topic among residents.

Lewis Sadler, of campaign group LoveDinnington.com, called for a ‘grown up debate’ on the issue.

“We are opposed to the traveller site because we think there are better uses for it, perhaps a station car park,” he said.

Residents have asked whether another traveller site is needed in addition to two others nearby.

Permission was granted by the council last year for travelling showmen off Cramfit Road, to occupy the former Magilla dump-it site off Cramfit Road, North Anston. And there is a small unofficial traveller site off Mill Lane, South Anston.