‘We will back you’ pledge councillors

The council made the decision at its monthly meeting on Monday when Coun Simon Tweed reported back on a meeting Rotherham councillors had with residents on Friday.

At that meeting, organised by the Save Our Greenbelt action group, residents packed into the Monksbridge Community Centre to voice their concern over Rotherham Council plans to build in the greenbelt.

The action group is fighting moves to build 1,100 new homes in the area between now and 2026.

“The meeting was great and lots of people turned out to see what the councillors had to say,” said meeting organiser and action group member Diane Walker.

“People want the greenbelt leaving alone. They are also concerned that Dinnington does not have the infrastructure to cope with so many more people.”

Coun Tweed also felt the meeting had been worthwhile, and assured residents they would get the answers they wanted.

“I felt that the meeting went really well and it gave all the local residents in our community a chance to express their views and fears over the current LDF proposals,” he said.

“The three borough councillors answered what questions they could and agreed to take the others to the offices in the planning department and then report back with the answers.”

“I hope that everyone went away feeling that they had been listened too and would like to say if anyone as got any more questions please feel free to contact one of us and we will do our best to get them an answer.”

He added: “I would like to reassure everyone we will continue to do our best for everyone in the ward.”

“The residents’ passion and determination has to be commend as it shows that they care very passionately about our lovely local countryside.”

And although the deadline for the first round of the consultation ends today (Friday), Diane has vowed that the group’s fight is just beginning.

“We handed in over 2000 letters of objection to Rotherham Council yesterday, and we are also doing interviews on local radio.”

“Now we are waiting for the answers to our questions that were raised on Friday. Once we have them we will be seeking a meeting with someone in power at the council.”

“Nobody was doing anything before until we set up this group to let the people in this area know what’s going on.”

She added: “The next stage for us is just to carry on. We wont be giving up. Their deadline might be the 16th September, but that’s not our deadline. We will keep fighting.”

The deadline for making representations for or against the plans is 5pm today (Friday).

To have your say, use the online consultation system at www.rotherham.gov.uk/forwardplanning.

n To keep up to date with what the action group is doing, or to get involved with the campaign, visit www.saveourgreenbelt.info.