Tide turns as marina plan wins approval
STAINFORTH looks finally set to get its long-planned marina after Doncaster Council backed the scheme with planning permission.
The borough's planning committee unanimously voted the scheme through after two councillors whose wards neighbour the scheme urged them to back it.
The proposals which were given the green light yesterday involve the construction of a 500-berth marina, with its own access route and parking facilities.
The scheme would also see a pub-restaurant, a visitor centre and shops on the site.
Developer Waystone Ltd also plans a 20m tall "iconic structure" which would take the form of a sculpture, the committee was told.
It is due to be built on land bordering the Stainforth and Keadby Canal, to the north of Measham Drive.
Backing the scheme, Stainforth and Moorends ward Coun Ken Keegan said the planning permission was vital to both the Stainforth area and the Thorne and Moorends area.
He said: "It will bring jobs to the area and not just jobs in construction, but in the operating of the facility.
"It was in 1901 that the canal came to Stainforth, and within the space of 10 years the population had doubled.
"Now I think this scheme will being bring jobs through the canal again."
He said there had been objections made to the scheme by Hatfield Town Council, but he believed the only traffic would be vehicles entering the site by people who were working there.
He said other traffic would come through via the M18 and would not need to travel through Hatfield to get there.
Hatfield Town Coun Ken Knight also spoke to the meeting in favour of the plan.
He said the town council vote on the issue had been close and the main reason for the objection was because town councillors felt the scheme should go before the committee rather than a decision being made by officers.
He said: "It is a deprived area and this will be a great asset. It could improve the esteem of the area and create tourist opportunities.
"It is important to helping Stainforth back on the rocky road to recovery.
"I wholeheartedly support this."
An almost identical application was submitted to the council last year but was withdrawn after concerns were raised by Natural England because of concerns over the effect it would have on wildlife.
But the organisation was satisfied with redrawn plans to increase the amount of alternative habitat to the west of the site and allow more canal site habitat to be retained.
"Natural England welcomed the revised plans," stated an official report.
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Friday 25 May 2012
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