3rd November 2007

Dear Star Letters

The public response to the development plans for Stocksbridge (‘Steel town’s new heart’, 2 November) is not as universally positive as the developers and STEP Community Trust make out. Although the idea of development is broadly welcomed, a number of concerns have been voiced by the local community at public meetings.

Perhaps the most difficult problem is the currently inadequate transport and drainage infrastructure for Stocksbridge and Deepcar. Yet there are plans to build several hundred more houses along the bottom of the valley. Unless the Stocksbridge to Sheffield railway line is developed for passenger use, then our transport infrastructure is not going to be able to cope with the considerable increase in local population. Moreover, the retail development will increase the traffic flows along the narrow and congested Manchester Road . Consequently, access from the bypass should be considered.

I also want to sound a note of warning regarding the fate of the shops we already have in Stocksbridge. How many people will do some of their shopping at the new supermarket and then hike over to the high street to buy their fruit and veg from the greengrocers? Will a small local electrical shop like McHale’s be able to compete with Wilkinson’s? If money is spent in national chain stores instead of local businesses, then this may be to the detriment of the local community. Over the past few years the Stocksbridge Pride Project has started to make significant improvements to the Town Centre. Perhaps the new retail development will not adversely affect the existing high street. But we could end up with a desolate high street lined with boarded-up and vandalised shops.

To their credit the developers, Dransfield, are making genuine efforts to consult the local community. Generally speaking, development in Stocksbridge is to be welcomed. But it needs to be done in an intelligent and sustainable way in order for it to be a benefit rather than blight to the town.

Cllr Dan Lyons (Stocksbridge Town Council)