LETTER TO THE EDITOR: Planners who don’t care have ruined Wath and people’s lives

AN article on BBC News (March 11) covers the planning application for a 300-plus housing development site on agricultural land at Brampton near the recreation ground (www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-south-yorkshire-60709559.amp).

One of the objectors is no lesser notary than local councillor David Roche, the article claims, who I am informed lives on a small estate bordering the proposed development. Even more preposterous is that the article states one of his objections is stated as ‘potential traffic issues’.

Could this be the same Cllr Roche who voted all along for the local plan that contained the proposed site and, who one assumes at that point in time had no objection to the proposed site. Now forgive me for suggesting that this objection is not only egregious hypocrisy but also grandstanding for the local electorate, many of whom also object, where either he, or one of his cabal, may need them to vote for them at the next local election.

This follows a pattern of Labour councillors who have done exactly the same.

We have seen objections previously from Labour councillors in Wales, Aston and now Wath. Yet they voted in support of these developments in the plan. Why does Cllr Roche not support residents in other wards who raise objections on similar grounds of not just potential traffic issues, but clear and unquestionable traffic issues?

In any other circumstance he would be agreeing with his colleagues on the planning committee who pass anything that does not affect themselves. They are simply not interested in the degradation of people’s lives or that the journey they need to make in a morning will increase dramatically. Their solution is simple, get up earlier, work later or relocate. Infrastructure — what is that?

Anyone who knows Wath, knows it has followed a similar path to other towns including Rotherham town centre. It has been allowed to degenerate and run down, during the day a ghost town and at the weekend in the evening often out of control.

It has been ruined by the location of the local Tesco store, in a similar way to that of Dinnington. Proving that this authority is not interested in the concerns of local communities and the support of thriving local town centres. It is only interested in raising business rates and council tax for its own vanity projects.

Incapable of leadership, I suggest is defined as competence, honesty and an element of entrepreneurial flair necessary to generate revenue from other sources. Where do we find such talent among Rotherham’s leadership? It simply reverts to type — leopards don’t change their spots — raise taxes regardless and waste it is the preferred and easiest way out of the mess they have made.

Rotherham has done Wath no favours whatsoever; it was a far superior place to live in when it had its own urban district council.

Big is certainly not better in this case.

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