Thursday, September 12, 2019

News: Council's curveball in Pitches planning battle

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Rotherham Council has reversed a decision to list The Pitches site as an Asset of Community Value in a blow to local campaigners who are against it being used for housing.

Rothbiz reported in April that Newett Homes is proposing a high-quality residential development comprising 124 dwellings on land known as The Pitches at Stag and that there was already opposition to the plans.

Friends of The Pitches successfully secured the site as an Asset of Community Value but following an internal review at the request of the site owners, council officers have overturned the original successful listing decision.

The register of assets of community value enables town and parish councils, local voluntary and community organisations the opportunity to nominate local land or buildings if they consider them to be of community value.

The tool is often used to give groups the opportunity to step in to save an asset if it comes up for sale. Successful applications to Rotherham's register include pubs, youth centres, greenspace and former council buildings.

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The authority will have been contemplating whether being an asset of community value is a material consideration in the determination of the planning application for housing.

A decision published by Rotherham Council reads: "As per the guidance, an internal review on the original successful listing decision to list The Pitches, Pitches Sports Club, Wickersley Road, Rotherham has been undertaken at the request of the property owners. The review was conducted by an officer of appropriate seniority, who did not take part in the original decision to list.

"This approval now supersedes the original approval overturning the original successful listing decision.

"The outcome of the review has concluded that the original successful decision should be overturned and the listing removed from the successful register and placed on the unsuccessful register."

Images: Google Maps

8 comments:

Anonymous,  September 12, 2019 at 12:52 PM  

Simple set up camp demonstrate on site, make it impossible to develop site. If people feel strongly enough, then that's a option, only way with greedy developers destroying environment. Bring it on๐Ÿ‘Š

M Benson,  September 12, 2019 at 3:13 PM  

Hm! Don't like the sound of this at all and I suspect the local residents will be very, very suspicious about the change of heart by RMBC.

Anonymous,  September 12, 2019 at 10:30 PM  

Are the Council going to publish the internal review "conducted by an officer of appropriate seniority"? VERY DOUBTFUL! Can it be requested by a Freedom of Information request? In situations like this there is always the thought that there has been some pressure put on by a financial incentive of one kind or another. This needs referring to an appeal. Is there anyone, living in the area,with a legal background who would be prepared to look in to grounds for an appeal. Another reason for people of Rotherham to get rid of this totally inept Council & some of their so called 'Senior Officials'.

Anonymous,  September 26, 2019 at 8:38 PM  

Wholeheartedly agree, it stinks!!

Anonymous,  October 15, 2019 at 7:16 AM  

This needs to be shared far and wide. The developer has so far done everything without following the councils policies on planning until he has been forced to. Removal of trees and perimeter hedgerows, siting of porter cabins and erection of fencing around the perimeter stopping access to the site that the properties surrounding the site have had access to for over 20 year. He has then applied for retrospective planning at all stages. He is making the council look rather silly putting it politely.
The developer has no consideration for residents and the surrounding area. In submissions made in his application there are multiple inaccurate facts. These can be seen in his online application. Such as the site hasn’t been used for over 5 years (he’s hasn’t said that the community has been stopped from using the facilities). There’s no wildlife and has a sevey done after the removal of trees and hedges. There are to many to list. Thankfully foxes, birds and the family of bats have been visible this summer!
This site needs to be put back to its original glory and I am sure as a community it would be used as a sporting facility.

Anonymous,  October 15, 2019 at 7:19 AM  

I have tried to get a copy as I live on Broom Av they are making it very hard for me to see the paper work. They have said it’s confidential so I don’t know what to do next

RobR October 15, 2019 at 7:46 AM  

There needs to be a viewable paper trail of what led to over-turning the original decision. This would dispel what everybody suspects the real reason for it is. Come on RMBC, can you show us some transparency please??

Anonymous,  October 15, 2019 at 12:55 PM  

Totally agree that this space should be left as a sports facility & Club house for functions,our family &friends have used it for years.we live ccvclise &weve seen Foxes,Owls& wildlife. This area is already busy with traffic at peak times. The Schools & GP surgeries are full. Please keep our green space

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