Firm defends digging plans for Rawmarsh parkland

The area off Infirmary Road at Parkgate, known locally as the Banana Plantation. 180535

Representatives from SteelPhalt met with residents last Wednesday to discuss plans and hear concerns.

Neighbours expressed worries about rare wildlife and a potential loss of amenity.

But operations director Martin Gray tried to allay fears and promised to restore the hill replant trees, with improved access on metalled paths.

He detailed community work the firm has done, including a car park at Rotherham Hospice and a state-of-the-art football facility at Kiveton Park.

“If people are concerned about our ethics, I would ask them to speak with Rotherham Hospice or Kiveton Community Sports Park and see what they think of us,” he said.

“We’re a part of this community and we wouldn’t do anything to jeopardise that.

“If there was major opposition to us using this site, then we wouldn’t go ahead.”

He added: “I do understand people’s concerns and I can only assure them that we’ll leave it in a better state than we find it.”

The roadmaking firm wants to dig test holes at the Parkgate site known as the Banana Tip, due to its curved shape.

The firm wants to dig eight test pits, each 3m square by 2m deep, and two deeper boreholes.

Dug and filled in one by one, these initial works are set to take just three days.

They will help SteelPhalt determine whether there is enough slag to supply their operation.

The firm, which has used steelworks waste to make road surfaces since 1964, needs to replace raw materials lost due to steelmaking decline.

But residents said they were concerned about losing a green space popular with dog-walkers and bird-watchers.

John Nixon (66), of Victoria Road, said: “It’s a valuable asset — people who come from all over to walk their dogs there.

“There’s bats there, as well sparrowhawks, falcons, woodpeckers, and we’re concerned about them.”

SteelPhalt promised an ecological survey before major works began, but Mr Nixon said he was “not reassured”.

He added: “It’s such a fantastic facility to have. I go up there four times a day.

“Then there’s dust, noise and where they’re going to park the heavy vehicles — all of that.

“We would like to know what’s in the bank, but as far as going further, I am very concerned about it.”

SteelPhalt said test pits could be dug within two weeks, with securing planning permission for full works likely to take over six months.