The Masterplan is still provoking anger and fear this month. The Plan, which includes demolition and rebuilding of retail and residential areas, is due at Council Cabinet in May for a final decision. But some residents are determined to get their views heard and the plans changed.
Spital Hill speaks up
On 2nd February the Spital Hill Local Voice presented a petition of over 800 names to a full Council Meeting. The group, based at the Burngreave Ashram on Spital Hill, have been campaigning for the Masterplan to be replaced by a plan developed with ‘proper consultation’. Dave Havard, spokesperson of the group, said:
“We’re not against regeneration, just the wholesale demolition of Spital Hill.We would like to be listened to and to take an active role in rewriting the Masterplan. We think most buildings should be saved to keep the character and history of the place. And we fear local traders won’t be able to afford to come back after the renovations.There is a lot of concern and fear about what’s happening.”
The group met with David Shepherd, the Programme Director who manages the Masterplan consultation. He said:
“The petition brought to the Council about Spital Hill will be fed into the consultation process, but we must focus on working through the groups already set to represent residents, such as New Deal and Burngreave Community Action Forum. We are working very closely with the Burngreave Business Forum around the concerns of traders on Spital Hill and the Forum will decide whether they support the Masterplan at their meeting on the 22nd March.We are taking on board what is being said and we will make amendments where appropriate.”
Spital Hill Local Voice’s request for further consultation has been turned down. “The Council believe their consultation with residents has been good, but they will not let us see the results,” explained Dave. “We would like to do a survey, similar to that done in Fir Vale, so residents get their say as well as traders. We don’t mind who does this as long as it is done.”
To get involved in Spital Hill Local Voice call 0783 812 3071.
Fir Vale get their say
Fir Vale residents are showing strong opposition to plans to demolish over 500 homes which are to be replaced with half the number of new homes.
Following the release of the final draft of the Masterplan in November 2004, residents voiced their concerns in an angry public meeting with the Council, complaining that it had not been made clear that the plans were to demolish their homes.
Responding to this, the Council asked Fir Vale Vision to include questions about the Masterplan in their household survey. The survey has had responses from over 400 residents, about 60% of those affected by the plans. The survey directly asked if residents would like to see less demolition, which streets should be demolished, alongside questions about renovating their properties. The results will soon be available.
Councillor Ibrar Hussain told us:
“People from the Skinnerthorpe Road area have made requests to demolish their properties and to build them better, affordable, houses.While people from Fir Vale East are totally against the proposal and it was very clear at the meeting held at Firvale School. I do feel honestly these are hard choices we as elected members have to make, but I can assure you that no decision will be made until all the consultation is done and complete.”
Plans can change
The Council have repeatedly told the Messenger that residents’ opinions will have an effect on the Masterplan. They intend to hold meetings in March to show amendments to residents. But at the end of the day a decision will be made by the Council.
Residents have always said they want to see the area they live in improved but what message is being sent when the main tool of regeneration is demolition? Do existing residents stand in the way of improvements? As we have seen on Woodside, demolition can mean we lose the residents who deserve to benefit from regeneration most.
More on this story at “I don’t want to lie in front of bulldozers.”