Press Releases Question: Is Democracy Dead? Unelected civil servants in planning departments and the planning inspectorate are undermining decisions made by democratically elected Councillors and Members of Parliament, who speak on behalf of their constituents. For democracy to work Parliament needs to ACT and support decisions made on behalf of the electorate. Michael Meredith, https://www.ecological-owlthorpe.org Sheffield E-Mail: ecologicalowlthorpe@gmail.com --------------------------------------------------------- Government departments at loggerheads It seems to me that we have a number of Government departments are at loggerheads with each other. George Eustace MP the Environment Secretary, Environment Agency, the Forestry Commission and Natural England have jointly committed to “nature-based solutions to tackle the climate emergency and stop downstream flooding”. Robert Jenrick, the Housing Secretary, Sheffield (LPA) and the Government Inspectorate want to cover the country in concrete without any consideration for the environment and citizens living downstream. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Sheffield City Council overlooks upstream nature-based solution “Sheffield (LPA), alongside local MP Clive Betts, has set out an exciting new proposal to improve and develop the green corridor running along Ochre Dyke and stretching from Ivy Lane at Beighton through to Waterthorpe Park.” The plans can be viewed on website: https://www.sheffieldsoutheastlabour.org.uk/2021/03/14/ochre-dyke-green-corridor the project shows boundaries and detailed maps of all areas included in the project, Grange Road, Drake House Lane, Crystal Peaks Meadows, Warterthorpe Open Space, Clayton Hollow open space, Ochre Dyke Fields and Waterthorpe Park. What is missing from this Ochre Dyke project is the fact that the header waters of the Ochre Dyke are situated in Birley Woods Golf Course and continue down through Owlthorpe. Please examine the extensive conservation work caried out in 2010 to 2012: https://www.ecological-owlthorpe.org/EO-12InterpretationBoardEntrance.pdf Since the official opening of Our oasis by MP Clive Betts 16 th March 2012 it has been used and enjoyed by local residents of Owlthorpe. It seems to me that Sheffield (LPA) and MP Clive Betts have decided to put profit before the wishes, health and wellbeing of residents of Owlthorpe. Many residents recovering from covid say it has left them both physical and mentally drained. We need our open spaces for rest and recuperation. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Prior to the public inquiry regarding Avant Homes Building in Owlthorpe, I requested in a number of correspondences to Holly Dutton, Heken Skinner, George Eustace MP and Robert Jenrick MP that the Government review Sheffield City Council's Planning Meeting on 2nd June 2020. I believe that Sheffield (LPA) may have misled the Government with regards to the true outcomes of this meeting. -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Public opinion is a very powerful tool. The public need the media to ask searching questions of those in authority. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- I feel that a nationally important issue regarding flooding has been totally ignored by the Government appointed Building Inspectorate. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- Account of one of the victims of the flooding in Fishlake We need to look upstream at nature-based solutions to slow the flow. I hope that you can consider the impact of this development on the livelihoods and wellbeing of lowland communities and their landscapes. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
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Please read our editorial in the Yorkshire Bylines. Sheffield campaign calls for protection of upstream environments to stop downstreem flooding. Public Inquiry Information supporting Ecological Owlthorpe as an upstream nature based solution protecting the environment from downstream flooding. Please help save Owlthorpe Heritage & Nature Trail by Signing our petition to Sheffield City Council: https://chng.it/6vXHqcGG4S also, our petition to Parliamentary Ombudsman: https://chng.it/FPc7X4Nq |
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