Council questioned over rejection of plan to “extend Sheffield’s very own little Notting Hill”
Star reader H.J.Greaves questions Sheffield Council’s decision not to grant planning permission for a scheme which would “extend Sheffield’s very own little Notting Hill”
The proposed development of the Hatfield Jaguar site on Sharrow Vale Road is a brilliant idea and if permitted would extend Sheffield’s very own “little Notting Hill”.
More shops, offices, restaurants and bars would make it an even more desirable destination and create lots of jobs and activity.
However the “Nanny Knows Best Dept” of the council has really surpassed itself this time and put the mockers and blockers on it and as usual stifling anyone who is trying to earn a crust.
Let’s just run through their three fatuous reasons for refusal:
1) Not enough checks into the effects of the scheme on wildlife and habitats.
The site has been home to Jaguars (the car not the animal!) for a long time and wildlife has coped with it. These creatures are spitting distance from the massive General Cemetery and I would have thought that this was more suitable for them anyway so they will move. As far as I am aware, there are no great crested newts there.
2) Officials thought that solar panels might cause glare.
Solution: So don’t use them.
3) Planned cycle storage was not secure enough as it was out of sight and this would discourage the use of sustainable transport mode. You couldn’t make it up!
Solution: Use bigger padlocks.
Our all-important new God - the bicycle - must now take precedence over everything that our council looks at. Their glasses are not rose tinted but spoke and saddle tinted. When will they ever learn that not everyone is physically capable of using this form of transport.
We will never emulate Holland due to our hills, nor ever reach the nine million bicycles of Bejing (apologies to Katie Melua).
The car is King and will never be toppled from his throne. Get over it!!
The Hatfield site decision follows on from the council decision not to allow Urban Pitta to move into the large unit on the corner of Woodseats Road and Chesterfield Road because of its proximity to a school. The little dears will find their way to a chippy or burger bar anyway which are even less healthy than pitta bread.
As usual ‘Nanny knows best’ and thinks it is much better to have these two prime sites empty and festering rather than creating jobs and the ensuing wealth and prosperity.
With such negative attitudes it is little wonder that we have so many empty retail units in this ‘vibrant’ city of ours but ‘twas ever thus.
What a reputation to have.