A COMMUNITY is stepping up its battle to have a piece of land earmarked for new homes declared a village green.
Residents living around Manvers Green in Wath have already forced Rotherham Council to defer an application to build 45 houses on the site.
They are worried the proposed development by Gladedale Homes will mean the loss of more valuable green spac
e from the Dearne Valley, and are concerned about danger from extra traffic.
And they have decided to press for village green status for the land and will defend themselves if the case goes to a public inquiry, where the builders and Rotherham Council would oppose the bid.
They are following in the footsteps of residents at Thorpe Hesley who are still waiting to hear if their attempt to have land earmarked for a new access road made a village green has been successful.
"We can't hope to compete with the thousands of pounds that the council are spending to stop us saving the green," said Wath campaign spokesman Andy Denton.
"We do have a campaign fund, but it wouldn't pay for five minutes of a barrister's time. We plan to represent ourselves, and we are just hoping that our honesty and determination will impress the council's solicitor who will make the decision about whether our case warrants a public inquiry.
"Of course we are worried that the council are sitting on both sides of the fence, so to speak, but we just have to trust in a fair and impartial legal process and a public Inquiry would see to that."
Campaigners say the piece of land is a playground for local children and a haven for wildlife. They are also worried that using Cadman Street as an access to the development could pose a serious danger.
Mr Denton added: "It's a narrow road that was built 100 years ago and there are already so many cars parked on each side - to narrow it even more is going to cause problems.
"And with an ambulance station and a school nearby they are asking for trouble - it's just going to add to the traffic "
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