Star backs campaign to preserve city green belt

Sean Bean met members of the Save S13 Green Belt campaign

Film and TV star Sean Bean has joined a campaign to stop housing developments on greenbelt land in part of his home city.

The actor met members of Sheffield's Save S13 Greenbelt - the Sapphire McCarthy Campaign this week.

The city council has approved proposals which could open up land for more than 1,700 new homes in Handsworth as part of the area's Local Plan, which council leader Tom Hunt previously said was needed to "tackle the housing crisis".

Handsworth-born Bean said: "It would be devastating if we lost it."

About four thousand people have signed a petition against the plans to make the land open for development.

Campaigners have also raised £10,000, which they say will be used to fight any future legal battles.

The S13 group criticised the plans for disproportionately affecting the area, claiming that 90% of Handsworth's green space could be lost and said more than half of the proposed new housing for Sheffield was being focused on that area.

They also said additional housing could overwhelm local infrastructure and lead to increased traffic congestion and pollution.

The Handsworth-born actor said losing green space would be "psychologically damaging" for residents

"The greenbelt means a lot to me as I grew up around that area and so did all my friends and families from the area," said Game of Thrones star Bean.

"You have to have greenery, it's a calming influence and good for your health and mind.

"If you haven't got that space around you, mentally and psychologically, it is damaging - you become insular, blinkered, and very claustrophobic."

He praised campaigners for their "passion and professionalism" in trying to protect the land.

"It is incredible how the residents have brought themselves together and how they have managed to get all this armour around them in such a short space of time," he said.

"It shows they mean business - we mean business - and we are not letting it go like that.

"We are not going to stop and we will see this through."

Campaigner Cheryl Hague said: "We are delighted to have Sean's support on this crucial campaign and will carry on this fight with the planning inspector meetings, which will be held next week."

Public hearings

The council said the proposed release of the 14 sites equated to 3.6% of Sheffield's green belt.

The housing element of the draft Local Plan, which also includes proposals for business development, schools and graveyards, is a response to a government requirement for Sheffield to build 38,012 new homes.

The council said the green belt options were considered after all brownfield options were exhausted and selection was based on a range of factors, with overall sustainability being a "significant priority".

The council said site availability was another significant factor, as it could select sites only where there was a willing landowner.

A six-week public consultation closed in July and public hearings with planning inspectors will begin next week.

Once the public hearings have ended, the inspectors may recommend modifications to the Local Plan, which will then be subject to further public consultation before the final version is considered for adoption by the council, likely to be next summer.

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