You may have heard that Skyline Enterprises, a New Zealand-based company, wants to build a major leisure and adventure attraction at Parkwood Springs, Sheffield.

The problem is that the proposed development is not simply a redevelopment of the former Ski Village site. It would also take over areas of Parkwood Springs that are currently green space and accessible to the public.

We are not against the old Ski Village site being redeveloped. After years of dereliction, we understand that development there is likely to happen.

What we are against is unnecessarily expanding development into the surrounding green space and taking land that local people and wildlife already use and value.

What does “10% of Parkwood Springs” actually mean?

The plans for the proposed development say that ‘only 10%’ of Parkwood Springs will be used. But what does ‘only 10% of Parkwood Springs’ actually mean?

A significant amount of Parkwood Springs has historically been inaccessible or difficult to access. Other areas are regularly used by local people and visitors for walking, recreation, cycling and enjoying the landscape.

So the important question is: how much of that 10% is land that people can currently access and regularly use?

The former Ski Village site itself was around 9 hectares, while Parkwood Springs as a whole is roughly 140 - 150 hectares. That means the former Ski Village accounts for around 6% of Parkwood Springs.

If the development is being described as using 10% of Parkwood Springs, how much of that is the former Ski Village site - and how much is additional green space that people currently use?

We need to look beyond the headline percentage and ask exactly what land is being taken.

We need clear information about the land being affected

We have found the maps and plans provided for consultation difficult to interpret. For a project of this scale and potential impact, residents should be able to clearly see the boundary of the former Ski Village site alongside the proposed Skyline development boundary.

People should not have to struggle to work out which parts of Parkwood Springs are currently accessible green space and which areas would be affected by the proposed development.

We believe the public should be given clear, accurate and accessible information showing exactly which areas of Parkwood Springs would be developed, changed or lost.

Is the public being given enough time to have a meaningful say?

We are also concerned about the consultation timetable.

The public meetings were only advertised around 8-9 days before they took place, meaning many local people had very little notice to make arrangements to attend.

The consultation period is also relatively short given the scale and potential impact of the proposal.

We are concerned that local people have not been given sufficient time to properly understand the plans, discuss their concerns, seek answers and provide meaningful feedback.

A development of this scale deserves a consultation process that gives the community a genuine opportunity to understand what is being proposed and have its voice heard.

Use the existing Ski Village footprint

We believe the existing Ski Village footprint should be used as much as possible rather than sacrificing accessible green space for further development.

Skyline has also been involved in a similar major leisure development on Kilvey Hill in Swansea, which has faced significant local opposition and controversy.

We do not want Parkwood Springs to become another example of a large commercial leisure development changing a valued landscape and raising concerns about the loss of open space, wildlife habitat and public access.

Parkwood Springs is more than a development opportunity. It is a landscape, a wildlife habitat and a green space used and valued by local people.

We are calling for a development that:

- Protects the landscape and character of Parkwood Springs
- Protects wildlife and habitats
- Protects existing walking and recreational space
- Minimises the loss of accessible green space
- Makes maximum use of the former Ski Village site
- Clearly shows residents exactly which land would be affected
- Gives the public sufficient time and information to properly participate in the consultation

We are not saying “do nothing”.

We are saying:

REDEVELOP THE SKI VILLAGE - NOT OUR GREEN SPACE.

Please sign and share this petition and help protect Parkwood Springs.

HAVE YOUR SAY:

If you live locally, please also take the time to submit your views directly through Skyline’s consultation:

https://skylinesheffieldproject.co.uk/have-your-say

RESIDENTS OF SHEFFIELD - PLEASE ALSO SIGN OUR SHEFFIELD CITY COUNCIL E-PETITION.

The council can ignore a Change.org petition but they can't ignore a Sheffield City Council one. Link: 

https://democracy.sheffield.gov.uk/mgEPetitionDisplay.aspx?id=10412

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