Agenda item

(The Council has received a petition from, Mr Chris Owen, the petition organiser on behalf of the Rose Hill Residents’ Association, requesting Doncaster Council to stop its plans to sell Rose Hill to a developer to build houses on the Green Space.)

The Council received a Petition from Mr Chris Owen, the Petition Organiser, on behalf of the Rose Hill Residents’ Association, requesting Doncaster Council to stop its plans to sell Rose Hill to a developer to build houses on the Green Space, which had been submitted in accordance with the Council’s Petition Scheme.

Prior to debating the Petition, the Chair of Council, Councillor Ian Pearson, outlined the procedure which would be followed.  The Petition Organiser would be given 5 minutes to present the Petition and as the Petition was below the 10,000 signature threshold, there would be no discussion or debate involving Elected Members.  Upon conclusion of the presentation, the Petition would be referred to the appropriate Executive Member.

Mr. Chris Owen, in presenting the Petition, addressed the Council as follows:-

“We are asking the Council to stop the sale of Rose Hill to a developer or explain why it will not and how destroying Rose Hill aligns with the Environmental Strategy and vision to make Doncaster a place where nature flourishes.  This Petition has been signed by over 110 people and there is a separate online Petition with over 1300 signatures.  The sale of Rose Hill is a matter of widespread public concern.  The decision to sell Rose Hill was made before the Council declared a Climate and Biodiversity Emergency, and before the issue of its Climate Commission Report on Environment Strategy.  Your Environmental Policies have therefore evolved significantly since the decision to sell was made; a decision which now urgently needs revisiting in light of the these developments.

Rose Hill is a biodiverse mixed habitat containing areas of woodland, grassland and scrubland which supports many trees, wildflowers and wildlife, including protected species.  It is next to a local wildlife site and through naturalisation, is expanding it.  It is on the green corridor allowing wildlife to move across Doncaster.  It is a much valued community asset which is widely used by the public for recreation and to connect with nature.  It is exactly the sort of place this Council says must be protected to tackle Climate Change, stop biodiversity loss and create greener communities.

So why is the Council choosing to destroy a place which it should be protecting.  The sale of Rose Hill is a choice.  Paragraph 4.74 of the Local Plan says there is 25% more housing supply over the Plan period.  3852 units that are needed to meet housing targets.  Your Residential Land Availability Survey says that there are Planning Permissions granted for over 12,000 houses which have yet to be built.  Given these circumstances, it is inappropriate and unnecessary for the Council to sell a biodiverse habitat and community green space to a developer.  The Local Plan also takes no account of your Climate Commission Report or Environmental Strategy, which you said you would update the Plan for, but have not.

The sale of Rose Hill is contrary to the Council’s Environmental Policies; for example, you say you will safeguard existing trees and that there is a presumption against development that will result in the loss and deterioration of woodland and trees.  How are these Policies being applied at Rose Hill?

You say you will increase the amount of land given over to woodland, wildflower grassland and green space; how will this be achieved if you sell off this type of land to developers?

You say naturalisation, preserving wildlife, wildflower areas and supporting Doncaster’s wildlife are key to protecting and preserving biodiversity and tackling the climate emergency, so why are you not protecting Rose Hill’s naturalised habitat, wildflower areas and wildlife?

We have been told that naturalised habitat on Rose Hill, which has developed over the last 25 years, will be replaced by a newly established habitat bank which is like saying we are going to burn your house down, but don’t worry, we will possibly replace it in about 25 years’ time.

Yes, we need to create new habitat, but it should add to the decades old habitat we already have and not be used as an excuse to destroy it.  It should be obvious that Rose Hill is an existing habitat bank already delivering benefits for the environment and wildlife, and ideally suited for enhancement and further habit creation.  If you are serious about tackling climate change and biodiversity loss, you should make Rose Hill a habitat bank, not destroy it. 

Do not forget, Rose Hill is also a green open space which is much loved and used by the community to connect with nature.  We invite all Councillors to go to Rose Hill, walk along the bridleways that run between the trees and across the scrubland, listen to the bird song, enjoy the tranquillity of this beautiful place and see what will be lost forever under your watch if it is sold.  After visiting Rose Hill, we hope you will appreciate its value and why it must be protected, and that you will support us and act to stop its sale and destruction.  All we are asking the Council to do is what it tells everyone else to do; put the environment at the forefront of its thinking, act like there is a Climate Emergency and stop destroying habitat.  So please, follow your own Environmental Policies, revisit and properly scrutinise your decision to sell and stop the sale of Rose Hill immediately, and protect this place for future generations and wildlife before it is too late.

Make no mistake, if the Council can sell and destroy a biodiverse habitat and green community asset such as Rose Hill during a Climate and Biodiversity Emergency, then no green space in Doncaster is truly safe.  Thank you for listening.”

At the conclusion of the presentation, the Chair of Council, Councillor Ian Pearson, formally accepted the Petition on behalf of the Council, and reported that the Petition would be referred to the appropriate Portfolio Holder, Councillor Joe Blackham, Cabinet Member for Highways, Infrastructure and Enforcement.