Councillors reap what they sow

Friday 3rd February 2012

You reap what you sow, I refer to the article on the successful planning application by UK Coal to develop its North Gawber site and to build 400 homes.

For years that has been its intent and in 2010 the ruling cabinet agreed to a policy to have a partnership between UK Coal and BMBC to build homes on its 700 hectares of land.BMBC also had a policy to build 1,000 homes in Royston and 800 within Staincross-Mapplewell, all agreed by our Labour councillors. These within BMBC, including councillors who did sow the seeds, no doubt will be rejoicing to see them bloom, so what strange behaviour from the cabinet member, Coun Roy Miller, to be stamping his feet and venting indignation against this development.

The rally cry from objectors in the village is unable to cope with this large increase of people and their motor vehicles, all this will be to the detriment of their quality of life, and let’s not forget, there is more to come.

For years councillors have shaped our communities, how disappointing they bring into this community significant problems, to which they have no solution, is that being sensible? At least residents deserve an account on why they did sow the seeds.

Comment on this story

Posted by stutheenquirer on Mon 5th Mar 2012 at 12:06pm Dear Barnsley citizens, you are not alone on this problem.There are plans by many neighbouring authorities to destroy green belt and open countryside. Leeds want to develop 7,200 new homes in Morley area (many in tingley and east ardsley) - nearby Wakefield plan to build hundreds more in the wrenthorpe area and worse still Kirklees council want to develop the entire potentially massive Windsor opencast site adjoining chidswell ,gawthorpe, west ardsley, shaw cross on the dewsbury/wakefield/leeds corridor. When mapped out singly, these plans more or less all link up to destroy a huge corner of West Yorkshire alongside the M1. The area is of outstanding scenery and landscape. This conspiracy of authorities to desecrate our open spaces is nothing short of criminal. I'm sure this wholesale destruction is planned nationwide and affects many communities. One point of intererst......in most cases,there is a familiar theme-the interests of UK Coal and their property arm seem to feature prominently. Check out the Chidswell Action Group website, KCAN on facebook and Keep Wrenthorpe a village website for further info.

Posted by Bonna on Sun 4th Mar 2012 at 01:04pm Roy Miller is right to oppose. The area has loads of houses. what it needs is open space

Posted by stutheenquirer on Mon 13th Feb 2012 at 08:47pm And now for the good news.Not content on stripping former coal communities of their livelihoods and resources,it seems the powers that be now wish to "give something back"after years of neglect.Of course this benevolent development plan is all designed to benefit mainly 2 interested parties(UK Coal and their developers)......it will in no way of course, create traffic,schooling,sustainability,infrastructure issues..Well people,you'd better get used to it as this is only the beginning of overpopulating former coalfield communities around the borough.Green belt has become a dirty word.The developing company are based miles away and cannot surely have the local peoples opinion at heart.