Camping and caravans blocked on green belt site

Residents and local councillors had objected to plans for the site at Little Intake Farm, Woodhead Road, Grenoside, saying it would ruin the woodland and be an added danger on the busy 60mph road.

The plans were rejected after six councillors voted against, four were in favour and two abstained.

Former Sheffield Hillsborough MP Helen Jackson was one of the campaigners who spoke against it at a planning meeting along with local councillors Mike Lavery and Alan Hooper.

Mrs Jackson said: “I have lived here for 45 years and the site is used by a large amount of people for leisure and pleasure at weekends and holidays.

“The woodlands have been well managed and are used by cyclists, dog walkers, ornithologists and ecologists and because of the nature of the open woodland they need very careful planning consideration.

“It’s a swamp at the moment and totally unfit for camping because of the heavy rain. We want the natural landscape to be enjoyed and 30 caravans with all the amenities required is inappropriate.”

Mark Lloyd, on behalf of the campsite, said it had the backing of tourism bodies: “The road is very straight with unrestricted visibility and the site is more than adequate for campsite traffic.

“There is an acute need for this sort of facility in the north of the city as other sites are too small.”

Coun Peter Price disagreed and said: “I recognise the importance of camping, particularly in the north of the city, but this car park is always busy and it’s a difficult turn. This will be a scar and spoil the landscape and we should be encouraging other sites.”

Coun Tony Damms added: “It’s going to be a very dangerous situation. We have speed restrictions which need to be enforced but we’re not sure there’s the capacity to monitor that. This area is quite a well used, visibility is restricted and you have cars haring around the bend.”