Once greenbelt is gone...it’s gone

Concerned Rotherham residents and protest groups will be putting forward (again) their objections to this loss of greenbelt in the face of various house-building companies and their representatives.

In this time of national austerity, Rotherham Council must have spent an enormous amount of its council taxpayers’ money employing professional planners and consultants to produce a large number of highly detailed reports to justify their proposals, despite the objections of the people who they are supposed to represent.

No one doubts that more housing is needed across the country, but it is simply wrong to use greenbelt land.

If as the council say, little other land is available, then don’t allow thousands of houses to be built. Remember councillors, you can say no. Travel round the borough and there are large numbers of houses recently built, under construction or already planned.

Even house-builders have objected to the council’s plans. But they say not enough new housing is planned. But they would say that, wouldn’t they? They are building for profit, not for people.

It is time the councillors remembered that they are in power to represent their constituents, not their party. Remember, local elections are not too far away!

Attached are photos of hard-working farmers ploughing on proposed building land in sight of the town centre. Their home and livelihoods are at risk sometime in the near future. This must make their forward planning very difficult and disheartening.

Rotherham residents should take a long hard look at what they are soon likely to lose. Once it’s gone — it’s gone!

Antony Jones, Save our Greenbelt