Special school denied permission to fence off area plagued by litter and anti-social behaviour

Dr Perdita Mousley said the grassed area behind the MyPlace centre on St Ann’s Road — now home to Rotherham Opportunities College — was littered with syringes and rubbish and had been used by rough sleepers.

It is on the edge of the Wharncliffe estate, where residents have repeatedly complained of ongoing problems, which Rotherham Council said it was keen to get a grip on.

Dr Mousley, whose students were out litter-picking the site on Tuesday, said she had been forced to call the police several times this week to report anti-social behaviour and vandalism.

But RMBC described the area as an “attractive incidental green space feature” and ruled it must not be fenced off — despite two of its own officials backing the college’s planning application.

Planning documents said the two-metre fence would “harm the openness” of the spot and the setting of nearby grade II-listed St Stephen’s Church — even though the derelict and overgrown St Ann’s Road School site is just across the road from the church.

Dr Mousley pointed out Rotherham Council’s community protection unit had backed the idea, saying ROC staff had reported drug dealing in the car park and around the site in the past six months, while a council community safety officer offered his support, noting the “high level of crime” in the area.

“I’m fuming,” said the college principal, who plans to appeal against the ruling. “It shows such disregard for our young people who are all vulnerable and have special educational needs.

“The council clearly have no regard for their safety.”

Dr Mousley pointed out schools generally had fencing or other security measures around them and said ROC should be no exception.

She said she aimed to seek the backing of ward councillors and MP Sarah Champion ahead of her appeal against the planning decision, which did not go before RMBC’s planning board and was made last Thursday by a case officer under delegated powers.

RMBC’s decision notice said the college had not entered into any pre-application discussions with the council, adding: “While discussions prior to the determination of the application have identified a possible acceptable alternative to this proposal, the applicant has been unwilling to amend the scheme.”

Dr Mousley hit back, saying the council’s alternative plan had been just to fence off the car park and not the green space affected by drug use and rough sleeping.