More than 4,000 people have argued against the plans
Coun Kurtis Crossthorn, who represents Beighton ward on Sheffield City Council, at the proposed travelling showpeople’s site off Eckington Way(Image: Local Democracy Reporting Service)
Plans for a site for travelling showpeople is set to be accepted despite more than 4,000 objections.
The plans, which include the creation of an industrial area on land off Eckington Way near Crystal Peaks in Sheffield, have faced opposition from local residents, Sheffield South East MP Clive Betts, and ward councillors. However, following discussions at the latest public hearings into the Sheffield Local Plan held on Tuesday, September 30 at Sheffield Town Hall, it seems likely that the proposal will be accepted.
The local plan, which outlines planning guidelines for the city until 2039, must demonstrate sufficient sites for travelling showpeople, travellers, and gipsies to gain approval.
Government planning inspector Katie Child, who presided over the session, said: “We had a full discussion on this at a previous hearing on June 26 last year, which seems a lifetime ago.
Sheffield South East MP Clive Betts is opposing a proposed travellers and industrial site off Eckington Way, Beighton being included in Sheffield City Council”s draft local plan(Image: Local Democracy Reporting Service)
“That session noted that the site selection process had some drawbacks. We asked the council to rectify that and it has done so.
“On that basis it appears to me you have done the appropriate research and not been able to find appropriate sites to fulfil that site need. That issue I’m comfortable with.
“In terms of the gipsy and traveller assessment dated 2019, the position is it does have some really serious shortcomings. It has old data from 2018 and the full analysis covers only 2019 to 2024.
“There are indicative figures up to 2034 and no figures at all up to 2039. You have provided some of that through estimates in your hearing statement.
“I am concerned that it represents an underestimate of need. It should be updated immediately.
“An early review of that part of the plan is a priority.”
Subscribe to The Sheffield Drop for all things Sheffield
Email and online newsletter, The Sheffield Drop, highlights the very best news across the Steel City, regardless of the source.
Edited by Yorkshire Live’s Sheffield reporter Andrew Dowdeswell, the free bulletin has no adverts and features the city’s most important news, all curated in an easy-to-read, digestible format.
You can read The Sheffield Drop in two places – on our website, here, or delivered straight to your email inbox by subscribing using this link.
The council accepted Ms Child’s recommendation without comment.
She also questioned the council about why a site at Hesley Wood in Chapeltown hadn’t been considered. Council officer Eleanor Roden explained that Hesley Wood lies within the green belt, so it wasn’t assessed as the non-green belt site at Eckington Way had already been identified.
Get all the latest and breaking Sheffield news straight to your inbox by signing up to our newsletter here.
Get all the latest and breaking South Yorkshire news straight to your inbox by signing up to our newsletter here.