ANGRY residents have slammed Sheffield University for resurrecting controversial proposals to build on a walled 'secret garden'.
Planning permission for the development at Tapton Hall of Residence, Broomhill, was refused last year but the university and Miller Homes have appealed.
In June there will be a public inquiry and a fresh decision will be made about whether the hall and its grounds – including the 'secret garden' – should be replaced with 69 apartments and 48 houses.
Members of Broomhill residents' group BANG, who want to keep the garden as a public space, discussed the latest developments at their AGM last night.
Outgoing chairman, Hamish Ritchie, claimed the university had refused to talk to the group about the plans.
He said: "There is a great deal of public concern about the plans affecting the 'secret garden' and we will be objecting."
Broomhill councillor Paul Scriven, Liberal Democrat council leader-in-waiting, said: "I fought very hard with the community to protect the secret garden. I will be meeting the university's vice chancellor when we take power and will raise this issue. If the university wants to be an excellent neighbour, let's preserve the 'secret garden'."
Sheffield University said 25 per cent of the Tapton site would be turned into public open space, including its arboretum gardens.
They contain wildlife habitats and tree specimens planted in the 1960s and 70s by the botany department.
A spokeswoman said: "The university continues to make an overwhelmingly positive contribution to its local community and to the wider city. It is deeply regrettable if criticism in such a dispute overshadows public understanding of our commitment to this city and its people The university understands the desire of residents for quality green space in Broomhill.
"We are pursuing an appeal alongside Miller Homes so all parties are clear how the site can or can't be developed."
What do you think? Add your comment below.READ MOREMain news indexMore Rotherham newsMore Doncaster newsLatest sport.Check out the very latest on South Yorkshire's roads - including live traffic cameras on Sheffield's commuter routes - with our Traffic sectionThe full article contains 354 words and appears in Sheffield Star newspaper.
