War of words breaks out over plans to build 500 homes on Sheffield wildlife haven

More than 1,000 people have signed a petition against plans to develop Owlthorpe Fields, off Moorthorpe Way.

The campaign intensified even further after a planning application for an initial development of 72 homes was submitted to Sheffield City Council (SCC).

Beighton Liberal Democrat councillor Bob McCann is among those who oppose the development, saying it will damage the environment.

He has also complained over what he describes as a lack of public consultation on the plans.

But Labour says Coun McCann himself earmarked the site for housing when he was a cabinet member back in 2009.

Coun McCann said the community would lose its only bit of green space and there would also be an increase in traffic.

He said: “Beighton village was flooded recently for the second time since November. Building upstream in Owlthorpe will only make the situation worse. These are the kind of problems that would have come to light if the council had actually consulted with local people on the plans.

“Building on this land is a quick fix for a long-term problem. And as with all bodge jobs, the ramifications will come back to haunt the council.”

Coun Bob Johnson, Cabinet member for transport and development, said he was in discussions with community groups and meeting campaigners.

“Owlthorpe is an important local green space which is valued by residents, I hope that we can make progress on this issue. It’s important that residents are fully consulted and their voices are heard in plans that come forward for the site.

“However, for Coun McCann and the Lib Dems to claim to be against this site being developed is unbelievable.

“It was their decision back in 2009 that allows the site to be developed for housing and Coun McCann himself was the Cabinet member for housing.

“It is his decision to specifically allow the Owlthorpe site to be open to housing that has put us in this position.”