Developer shelves plans to build apartments on Sheffield community garden after hundreds object

More than 670 people signed a petition to protect the plot of green land on Cobden View Road at Crookes.

The scheme has now been shelved but local councillor Anne Murphy said campaigners would press ahead with plans to get the space designated as a village green.

She said: "This is great news, I would like to shout out a thank you to all the Crookes community who got behind this campaign to stop this development.

"Our work isn't done though and we are continuing with our application to get this designated as a village green.

"The plans being withdrawn does not mean the developer has gone away so our work goes on to get our green space back."

The land was sold in February and residents initially complained when 8ft high solid fences were suddenly erected on a bank holiday weekend restricting their access to the space and a footpath.

Police were later called when trees started to be felled.

Residents said they quickly salvaged some of the flowers and plants before vegetation was destroyed by workmen.

Plans were then submitted to build 18 apartments and three commercial units which prompted the petition.

Resident Marion Taylor had lobbied Sheffield Council for help and said: "Around 14 years ago a group from St Thomas' Church, with permission from the landowner, started a community garden project and planted spring bulbs, flowers and shrubs in the borders and installed a bench and maintained the grass.

"The care was passed to another Crookes community group from St Timothy's Church and they carried on maintaining the plot, adding to the planting and mowing the grass.

"The site is highly visible and passed by hundreds of people daily. It offers a pleasant view to people and people have held picnics on it and there was a maze mown in it one summer for children to follow."

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