A campaign group aiming to protect greenfield land in the East of Sheffield has created a petition to stop a large development going ahead.  

Members of the “opposition to the planned removal of green belt land in S13” want to protect Handsworth’s Finchwell and Bramley-beaver fields in the East of Sheffield which have been targeted by Sheffield City Council as areas where they could build 4,000 homes. 

Sapphire McCarthy, member of the action group, said: “It is not just about the green belt, it is about our green belt that is such a small area for such a large community compared to the rest of the city.” 

Green belt land helps to absorb carbon emissions and helps to provide habitats for an abundance of wildlife – some of which is in decline because of human activity. 

The action group blames the destruction of green belt land on the Labour Government. 

Sapphire said: “The Labour Government are looking for cheap and easy options so they can meet their housing target they pledged in their manifesto. 

“They’re all informed and have so little experience of such things. 

“They do not know what they are doing and rush these decisions without fully looking at the damaging effects they have.” 

So far the action group has organised a Facebook group, set up a working focused task group, secured 4000 signatures for their petition, set up a crowdfunding page and encouraged members of the S13 community to nudge MPs and councillors. 

The group has secured the chance to ask questions at a hearing which took place on May 14.

The group has met with and spoken to the local Labour councillors and MP Clive Betts to get their advice and support. Campaigners said the meeting was productive with lots of action on the part of the MPs and councillors. 

Sapphire said: “We now need our community to send individual submissions of objection during the six-week public consultation period. 

“Petitions and sad stories are one thing, but clear reasons why the council’s plan is flawed is what’s needed.” 

Councillor Mick Rooney, local councillor, has pledged to ask the council to send out letters to the community, informing people of the plans.