Protest over hill fort homes plan
Friends of Wincobank Hill who are protesting about plans for hopusing there..from left Peter Price,Penny Rae,Andrea Bows,Margaret Wood,Peter Rippon,Steve Bows,Stephan Enock and front Jessica Bows
MEMBERS of a local history group staged a demonstration against plans to build houses on the site of an ancient hill fort in Wincobank.
Residents and members of the Friends of Wincobank Hill protested against proposals to build 26 homes on an open space on the Roman Ridge, overlooking the Lower Don Valley.
If the development goes ahead, 22 three-bedroom houses and four two-bed flats would be built.
An archaeological survey by Dr Gareth Davies, of Archaeological Research Services, concluded there was ‘medium to high potential’ remains may be intact.
But Katrina Hulse, of agents DLP Planning, said trench surveys had found no historic artefacts.
Campaigners were joined by Shiregreen and Brightside Coun Peter Price for a protest at the site, and the opposition has also gained the backing of MP David Blunkett.
Ms Hulse said the scheme would provide ‘much-needed family housing’ identified by the council in its Local Development Plan.
“The proposal will provide significant environmental improvements to what is currently a degraded and poor quality site with limited access for the local community.”
Ms Hulse said a third of the site would be kept as a natural green space and the scheme would ‘enhance the environmental quality of the local area’.
Investigations in September 2011 found only modern service trenches and land drains, as well as plastic bags, she added.
But David Green, chairman of the friends group, said the society was ‘totally opposed’ to the development.
“There are a lot of questions that need answering about Roman Ridge in relation to Wincobank Hill,” he said.
“If our community is under threat we’ll support them.”
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Friday 25 May 2012
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