‼️IMPORTANT PETITION UPDATE: BARRATT HOMES, BARUGH GREEN & HIGHAM‼️

Please take a few minutes to read this, share it, and help us make sure our community is heard. I know it’s long but, it genuinely matters. 

I want to update everyone who has signed, shared or supported the petition opposing the proposed development of approximately 400 new homes on land off Mary Street and Coronation Road.

Many residents ( my guess is not all) will have received a letter dated 5 October 2026 from Royal Pilgrim Communications, writing on behalf of Barratt Homes, outlining their emerging proposals.

At first glance, the letter highlights affordable housing, green spaces, play areas, wildlife measures and improvements to local roads. However, I believe it is important that residents look beyond the wording of this letter and ask some very important questions.

There is a big difference between presenting the potential benefits of a development and providing the evidence that the development is appropriate for this particular location.

Here is why I believe we need to keep asking questions. 👇

🚩 1. THE WORDING PRESENTS PROPOSED BENEFITS, NOT GUARANTEES

The letter lists a range of benefits that the development would supposedly deliver.

However, these are proposals at a consultation stage. They are not evidence that the development has planning permission or that every proposed benefit will necessarily be delivered.

We need to understand exactly what is being proposed, what is being promised and what would actually be secured if the development progressed.

We cannot assess whether this development is right for our community based on a list of potential benefits alone.

🏠 2. LET’S TALK ABOUT THE 20% AFFORDABLE HOUSING CLAIM

The letter highlights 20% affordable housing as a major benefit.

But let’s put that into perspective.

20% of 400 homes is just 80 homes.

What does affordable housing actually mean in this scheme? Who would qualify? What would the properties cost to rent or buy? And would they genuinely be affordable for local families struggling with the cost of living?

These are reasonable questions that deserve clear answers.

⛏️ 3. WHERE IS THE DISCUSSION ABOUT THE MINING RISKS?

This is one of my biggest concerns, and one that I believe deserves far greater attention.

We have been gathering evidence relating to historic coal mining, open-cast mining and other potential ground stability concerns in and around the proposed development area.

Our research includes information from the Mining Remediation Authority’s mapping, highlighting historic mining activity. 

Mining is just one part of a much wider picture of concerns that we believe must be properly investigated before this development can be considered suitable.

Before anyone talks about building hundreds of homes, we need clear evidence that the history of mining in this area has been properly investigated, that potential ground stability risks have been assessed, and that any necessary remedial measures would be sufficient to make the site safe for development.

We are continuing to build our evidence portfolio because we believe these issues deserve proper scrutiny, transparency and clear answers.

Our community deserves to know that all relevant risks have been thoroughly investigated before decisions are made that could affect residents for generations to come. 🖤

🚗 4. WHAT ABOUT OUR EXISTING ROADS AND INFRASTRUCTURE?

Residents already have concerns about traffic, congestion, road safety and access.

The letter mentions appropriate highway works to mitigate the impact on local roads.

But what exactly would those improvements involve?

How would additional traffic affect Mary Street, Coronation Road (blind bend) and the surrounding roads? What assessments will be carried out? And will any proposed changes genuinely address the concerns of people who already live here?

We need specific answers, not just reassuring wording.

🦔 5. WHAT ABOUT OUR WILDLIFE, GREEN BELT AND LOCAL ENVIRONMENT?

The letter mentions biodiversity improvements, habitat creation and tree planting.

But creating new habitats does not automatically replace everything that could be lost through development.

We need proper ecological assessments, evidence about the wildlife already living in the area, and a clear understanding of the environmental impact of building around 400 homes here.

Our countryside and the wildlife that depend on it deserve proper consideration.

We also need to understand the wider impact on drainage, local services, schools and other infrastructure that an increase in housing could place under pressure.

This is about looking at the whole picture, not just the proposed houses themselves.

‼️‼️‼️‼️‼️‼️‼️

📧 NEW EMAIL ADDRESS: YOUR CONCERNS MATTER!

‼️‼️‼️‼️‼️‼️‼️

I have now set up a dedicated email address to help bring our community’s concerns together.

📩saynotobarrattsbarughgreenhighamamy@outlook.com

I want to hear from residents who have concerns, questions, evidence or personal experiences they believe should be brought to the attention of the council.

✍️ WOULD YOU LIKE TO SUBMIT AN OBJECTION?

If you wish to formally express your objection to the proposed development, please email me with the following information:

Your full name.

Your contact details.

Your reasons for objecting to the proposed development.

Any specific concerns, evidence or personal experiences you would like to be considered.

Your concerns might relate to mining risks, road safety, traffic, wildlife, the loss of green belt, drainage, local infrastructure or any other aspect of the proposal that matters to you.

Please explain in your own words why you object.

‼️You do not need to be an expert in planning law, or know all the technical terminology to have your say‼️

I will collect and collate residents’ objections and concerns so that they can be presented together to Barnsley Council as part of our campaign.

Please make sure you are happy for me to share your submission with the council for this purpose. Your contact details will be handled carefully and will not be published as part of campaign updates.

I also want to hear from anyone who has questions or issues they would like me to raise with Barratt Homes, the council or other relevant organisations. Please use the same email address.

The more information we can bring together, the clearer a picture we can build of the concerns affecting our community.

I want everyone to understand something important.

You do not need a degree in planning law, you do not need to be a solicitor, and you do not need to know all the technical terminology to question these proposals.
You are a resident. You are a member of this community. You have every right to ask questions about something that could affect your home, your family, your safety and the place you live.

If something concerns you, ask about it.

If something doesn’t make sense, ask for clarification.

If you believe something has been overlooked, speak up.

If you have personal experience of traffic problems, flooding, wildlife in the area or concerns about historic mining, your experiences matter.

Please don’t feel intimidated by professionally written letters or impressive-sounding promises. Read the information, question what you don’t understand and ask for evidence where you feel it is needed.

I cannot speak for every single person in Barugh Green and Higham, and I would never want to. I want to help bring our concerns together, but I also want people to feel confident enough to speak for themselves.

Your voice matters. Your questions matter. And you deserve answers.

We are stronger when we stand together, but that starts with individuals feeling empowered to speak up.

Never underestimate the power of yourself as a resident asking a perfectly reasonable question. 

🗣️ PLEASE USE YOUR OWN VOICE

I cannot stress this enough.

If you receive a consultation letter, please do not assume that signing a petition is the only thing you can do.

You have every right to ask for evidence and clear answers before decisions are made that could affect your home, your family and your community.

I can help bring our concerns together, but your individual voice is just as important as mine.

I will continue to keep everyone updated as the proposals progress.

Please remember that sending your objection to me allows me to collate it for our campaign, but it does not automatically register an individual representation with the council. When a formal planning application is submitted and the council opens its consultation, residents should also submit their own representations directly to the council. Which I am more than happy to help with. 

If you’re unsure about any step of the process, please email me and I will guide you. 

 

 

 

❤️ 3 WAYS YOU CAN HELP OUR campaign ❤️

There are three important ways you can help us keep moving forward.

1. SIGN THE PETITION ✍️

If you have not signed yet, please do.

If you have already signed, thank you.

Every signature represents someone who has taken the time to stand up and make their concerns known.

Our petition is about showing that these concerns are shared by members of our community and giving residents a collective voice.

2. DONATE IF YOU CAN ❤️

If you are in a position to donate towards the petition and campaign, any amount, big or small, would be genuinely appreciated.

You can do so using the petition link https://c.org/5x8fcdJZ7q

I know times are difficult for many people, and I would never expect anyone to give money they cannot afford.

However, donations can help support the work involved in raising awareness, sharing information and keeping this campaign moving forward.

There is a great deal of time and effort involved in researching the proposals, gathering evidence, contacting organisations and making sure our concerns are properly presented.

Every little contribution is appreciated more than you know.

If you cannot donate, please do not feel guilty. There are other equally valuable ways to help.

3. SHARE, SHARE, SHARE! 📢

If you cannot donate, please help us spread the word.

Share the petition with your friends, family, neighbours and local community groups.

Encourage people to read about the proposals, sign the petition, ask questions and make their own views known.

You never know who might see your post, sign the petition or have important information that could help our campaign.

The more people who know what is being proposed, the more people have the opportunity to make their voices heard.

We might be a small community, but that does not mean our concerns should go unheard.

📰 KEEP YOUR EYES OPEN FOR THE BARNSLEY CHRONICLE!

Please also keep an eye out for coverage in the Barnsley Chronicle. I have organised to speak with them. 

It is important that these proposals and the concerns being raised by local residents receive attention.

I am continuing to do everything I reasonably can to raise awareness, gather evidence and ensure that the questions surrounding this development are properly considered.

This is about more than a petition.

It is about transparency, accountability and making sure that the people who could be affected by these proposals have an opportunity to be heard.

I have put a great deal of time and effort into this campaign. I have been researching mining records, gathering evidence, contacting organisations and trying to understand the potential implications of this development.

I am doing this because I believe our community deserves answers.

I believe residents deserve to understand what is being proposed, what the potential consequences could be and what evidence supports the claims being made.

And I believe that people should have the opportunity to express their concerns without feeling that their voices will simply be ignored.

I know that not everyone will have the time, energy or resources to get involved in every part of this campaign. We all have families, jobs, responsibilities and our own struggles to deal with.

That is why every single signature, share, donation, email and message of support means so much.

You do not have to do everything. Just doing one small thing can help.

We are not asking for our concerns to be accepted without question. We are asking for them to be taken seriously, investigated properly and answered transparently.

We deserve to know that the potential risks have been thoroughly examined, that the impact on our roads and services has been properly assessed, and that our local environment has been given due consideration.

Once homes are built and the landscape has changed, those changes cannot simply be undone.

That is why asking questions now matters.

I am one person, but I am not standing alone.

Every person who signs, shares, donates, asks a question or submits their concerns helps strengthen our community’s collective voice.

And to everyone who has supported me so far, thank you. I genuinely appreciate every single one of you.

Let’s continue to stand together, keep asking questions and make sure our concerns are heard.

‼️SIGN. SHARE. SPEAK UP. STAND TOGETHER‼️

📩 To submit your concerns or ask me to raise a question, 

email: saynotobarrattsbarughgreenhighamamy@outlook.com

Barugh Green, Higham and the surrounding community deserve answers. Let’s make sure we keep asking the questions that matter. 🖤