NUM wades in on anger at pit wheel ‘hijacking’

From left: Alan Goy, resident; Terry Adair, Parish Council chairman; Chris Skidmore, NUM Yorkshire chairman; Graham Scott and Chris Badger, residents; Chris Kitchen, NUM general secretary, Bev Charlesworth and Andrew Badger, residents. 221078

Villagers in Treeton are angry that the pit wheel was not placed back correctly when Jones Homes built 94 houses off Wood Lane.

It was moved and turned to face a different direction — leading residents to say it has been hijacked to create a welcome to the new estate rather than the village.

A petition has been handed to Rotherham Council, which has also received dozens of objections through its online planning portal.

And now the NUM has backed calls for the wheel to be put back. General secretary Chris Kitchen said: “We were contacted by local residents and ex-miners in the area. Obviously, we still respect our history and heritage, even if some do not.

“We think it’s wrong that the wheel has been sited in such a way. It should be placed more prominently.

“There’s a real strength of feeling here. Treeton is still a closely-knit community, despite all the developments that have taken place. There are still ex-miners there. There are still family links, people who had relatives who worked at the pit.

“And something like this memorial helps newcomers to the village to relate to the past and learn about it.”

Treeton Parish Council chairman Cllr Terry Adair said: “The housing firm set the wheel up as they wanted it, and not where it should have been put.

“We’re pushing them to get it back where it belongs. There have been plenty of complaints but nothing actually happening at their end.

“We’ve escalated it to a petition, which had over 700 names, plus more online, to get our message across, and we’ve been given the support of the NUM with this.”

Simon Moss, RMBC assistant director for planning, said: “We contacted Jones Homes in September to ask that they reorientate the wheel as laid out in the original planning permission, so that it faces visitors on their approach into Treeton.

“Following that request, Jones Homes submitted a revised retrospective planning application to request the wheel remains in its current orientation.

“Members of the public can comment on the re-submitted proposals. All comments will be considered before a planning decision is made.”

If permission is refused by RMBC, enforcement action could follow. If Jones Homes appeals a refusal, the Planning Inspectorate would make the final decision.

One resident, commenting on the new proposals, said: “I believe the miners’ wheel should be placed back in its original place as Jones Homes promised.

“It is not there to be used and showcased by Jones Homes as an entrance to their new estate.

“It is a wheel that was placed on Wood Lane in remembrance of the workers and miners in Treeton village.”

A Jones Homes spokesperson said: “Jones Homes will be contacting Rotherham Council planning department this week to discuss the contents of the petition raised by Treeton Parish Council.

“No further comment will be made until these discussions are complete.”