Dear Friends and Neighbours,

I hope this message finds you well and proud to be part of a community that so passionately stands up for its green spaces, its wildlife, and the shared future of our community. If you’re reading this, you’ve already shown you care by signing our petition against Planning Application 25/01544/OUT in Derby – a proposal that, if approved, would see hundreds of houses built on the land off Moorway Lane, putting precious habitats and our community wellbeing at serious risk.

But the truth is – petitions are only the first step. Now we need every voice, every heart, and every hand to take the most powerful action available: formally submitting an objection to Derby City Council. Each individual objection counts, and this is the moment where numbers and heartfelt, personal stories can make all the difference.

Why We Must Act Now

If you’ve ever felt helpless in the face of big decisions, know that your objection letter is a direct and recognized way to make an impact. Councillors and planning officers don’t just look at the petition headcount; they count the number of individual objections. One letter can easily turn into a hundred if you encourage neighbours, friends, and family members to do the same.

Imagine it: our united voices, filling the council inbox, post bag, and portal with over 1,000 objections – a clear sign that Littleover and beyond will not be silent while precious green space like Millennium Woods is at risk. This isn’t just for local residents: anyone can submit an objection, no matter where you live – so please don’t hesitate to share with colleagues, distant relatives, or anyone who loves nature.

How to Submit Your Objection before 10 November

Submitting your objection is straightforward, and you have several options to choose from:

1. Online:

Use the Derby City Council’s Planning Portal.
Go to: https://eplanning.derby.gov.uk/online-applications/applicationDetails.do?activeTab=makeComment&keyVal=T3VB0SFSJA300

2. By Email:

Send your objection with the subject “Objection: Planning Application 25/01544/OUT”
Email to: developmentcontrol@derby.gov.uk
Be sure to include your name and address for your objection to be valid.

3. By Post:

Address your letter to:
Development Control, Derby City Council
Council House, Corporation Street
Derby, DE1 2FS

4. Hand-Delivered (No Postage Needed!):

On Monday 10 November, I will be hand-delivering objections directly to the Council House.

If you prefer to save postage and drop off a signed, printed letter yourself, just email me for my address so you can drop it to me ahead of the delivery day.

I will make sure every letter makes it safely to the council’s planning team.

No matter how you submit, your objection will be counted with equal weight. But time is short; don’t wait until the last minute.

Objection Packs and Community Drop-Off Points

We know writing an objection can feel overwhelming, especially if you're short on time or unsure what to say. That's why from Wednesday, you’ll find ready-to-go objection information packs at two wonderful local cafés:

• Kathleen-Rose Tea Rooms (now Peaches and Cream) – 121 Oaklands Avenue, Derby, DE23 2QL
• Mrs C's Tea Cosy – 4 Normanton Lane, Littleover, DE23 6GP

Both these welcoming tea rooms have packs with sample letters, instructions, and friendly staff happy to help while you enjoy a refreshing cup of tea or lunch. It's a great way to take a stand for nature and community, meet neighbours, and make the task a sociable one. Please pop in, encourage others, and help us keep the packs topped up – let’s fill those letterboxes with love for our green spaces!

And remember: if you want to drop off a signed objection instead of posting it, just reply to this email and ask for my address – many hands (and pens) make light work.

Every Person Counts – And So Does Every Story

Some people ask if partners, housemates, or children can submit an objection too. The answer is YES – and it’s vital that they do! Councillors count each unique objection, even from the same household or street. So, if you live with others, please encourage each person (over 8, under 108!) to craft and sign their own letter. Do you have neighbours who care, but haven’t written yet? Offer a cup of tea and help them get started.

There’s no issue with local connection either – objections on environmental, community, or planning grounds can be made by anyone, anywhere. If you have friends, family or former residents who love Millennium Woods, please share this email and encourage them to take part.

What Should I Write?

You don’t need to be an expert or activist to make your objection count. The most important thing is to write in your own words, from the heart. The council gives much more weight to objections that are personal, specific and focused on “material considerations” – issues they are allowed to look at when deciding planning applications, such as:

• Environmental impact: Loss of biodiversity, hedgerows, ancient trees, established wildlife corridors, and local nature reserves like Millennium Woods and Heatherton Pond.
• Traffic and safety: Extra congestion on Moorway Lane, especially during school runs, risks to children and increased hazards for pedestrians and cyclists (already documented at Derby Moor Academy).
  Flooding and drainage: Loss of greenfield increases flood risk. Millennium Pond and its sustainable drainage are vital – development threatens these natural buffers.
• Loss of community resource: Loss of a tranquil green space, used for walking, wellbeing, and outdoor play.
• Impacts on services: Local schools, GP surgeries, and other amenities are already under strain; hundreds of new homes would add major pressure.
• Contradiction with planning policy: The site forms a Green Wedge – open land meant to prevent urban sprawl and protect village identity.
  For more detailed advice, see: Greener Littleover’s Moorway Lane campaign page https://www.greenerlittleover.org.uk/planningdocs including Sample objections and guides: Planning Voice - Valid Reasons for Objecting, Tips for writing your letter: Planning Objection Guide with Template.

And always include:

• Your name and home address
• The planning application number: 25/01544/OUT
• And where possible send to your local councillors and MP
• Remember: Even a short letter in your own words carries more weight than dozens of duplicate copies. Speak plainly, sincerely, and specifically. The council must count every valid objection.

Share Your Reason, Share Your Heart: An 8-Year-Old’s Example

This weekend, an 8-year-old boy who regularly walks through Millennium Woods with his family sat down of his own doing to write his letter to the council. In his neatest writing, he explained that he loved the park and didn’t want to see them ruined and the nature that lives their harmed.   He hand delivered this to me today.

What courage for such a young person to speak up – and what a reminder that this isn’t only about us, but about the children and wildlife who may not have another place to go. If a child can find the words, so can we all.

Whatever your reason – wildlife, wellbeing, fear for flooding, or love of peaceful green space – please put it into your objection. You don’t have to be an “expert.” Just be honest, specific, and passionate about what this space means to you, your family, and the community.

Our Campaign Goal: 1,000 Objections & Counting

We set a bold target: 1,000 objections by 10 November. It sounds high, and it is – but already, with your help, we’re halfway there. If every person who signed the petition encourages two others to submit an objection, we will smash our target and send a message no decision-maker can ignore.

This is a team effort. Could you reach out to five friends? Drop off a few extra packs for neighbours? Offer to help someone with their draft, or call a grandparent who used to live locally? The more objections, the louder the chorus of community concern.

And don’t stop with the council. Please copy your objection email to your local councillors, Derby city MPs, and any local press. It raises the profile, encourages scrutiny, and lets your voice be heard in more places.

To find your councillor: Derby Council – Find Your Local Councillor
Local MPs’ details are also on the Greener Littleover site.

Need More Help or Inspiration?

The Greener Littleover campaign is here to make this as easy and empowering as possible. Find a wealth of resources at:  www.greenerlittleover.org.uk/moorwaylane
This page includes:

• Sample objection letters and templates (but remember: in your own words is always best)
• Writing tips on “material considerations” (the council’s official term for planning concerns)
• Key contacts: councillors, MPs, campaign leads
• Direct links to council documents so you can read what’s proposed for yourself
  Latest updates and campaign events
• If you have a question, want extra packs for your group, or need advice, just reply to this email. There’s also a volunteering page if you want to support the campaign in other ways – from wildlife surveying to delivering leaflets.

Encourage Others – Tea Rooms and Beyond!

From Wednesday onwards, Kathleen-Rose Tea Rooms and Mrs C’s Tea Cosy will be our community drop-in centres for objection writing. Bring a friend, enjoy a treat, and ask the staff for a pack – they’re eager to help you help Littleover. Support these fantastic small businesses while you’re at it.

If you hear of anyone needing help, or if you’re running your own club or workplace group, let us know and we can get more packs and support to you.

Example Objection Letter Structure

If you are stuck, here’s a template you might use (swap the details for your own – the more unique, the better!):

Dear Development Control Team,

I am writing to object to Planning Application 25/01544/OUT (land off Moorway Lane, Littleover).

My main concerns are:

Loss of Green Space and Wildlife: The proposed development would destroy irreplaceable wildlife habitats, mature hedgerows, and the unique ecosystem of Millennium Woods. Many rare species are present, and once this land is lost, we can’t get it back.
Impact on the Community: Millennium Woods is a vital escape for hundreds of local people, supporting mental wellbeing and community connection. The loss would be devastating for local families and future generations.
Traffic and Safety: Moorway Lane already suffers from heavy congestion, particularly at school times. The addition of hundreds of new homes would dramatically worsen this, increasing danger for pedestrians—especially children walking or cycling to school.
Flood Risk and Infrastructure: The fields and Heatherton Pond play a vital drainage role. Building over them will increase flood risk to surrounding homes and burden local infrastructure, while GPs and schools are already overstretched.
Contradiction to Council Policy: This site lies within a Green Wedge and the Local Plan aims to prevent urban sprawl and safeguard these spaces.
Please refuse this damaging application and take these community concerns seriously.

Yours sincerely,
[Full Name]
[Address and Postcode]

Frequently Asked Questions

Who can object?
Absolutely anyone – no need to be a resident or even live in Derby. If you value green spaces, your voice counts.

Can I use a template?
Yes, but it’s always best to personalize your letter to make it unique. Duplicate copies will count as a single objection.

Can more than one person from the same address submit?
Definitely! Every unique submission – partner, housemate, student, or relative – is counted.

Is there a deadline?
Offical Consultation closes on 10 November.  Objections are usually accepted within three weeks of validation, but the sooner the better. Please aim to send in your objection as soon as possible to ensure it is counted. Keep an eye on campaign updates for the exact cutoff.

Can I object by phone?
No – objections must be in writing: online, by email, by post, or hand-delivered.

Raising Our Voices Together

What we do over the coming days and weeks will shape the future of Littleover and safeguard nature and community life for children yet to wander these woods. It is easy to feel powerless in the face of large developers and complex planning rules – but history shows that a community coming together, expressing itself clearly and powerfully, does change outcomes. Last year’s successful campaigns against similar developments in other areas started exactly like this – with one letter, one conversation, one determined group.

Let’s get creative:

• Set up an “objection writing” session at your church, club, or school
• Ask children and young people to write their own heartfelt letters (they’re often the most moving!)
• Challenge friends to a “letter relay”
• Share updates, photos, and successes on social media – spread the word and the excitement!
• Connect with local press and radio – let’s make our story Derby’s story
• Stay Inspired – Every Voice Matters

I know that busy lives, confusion around planning rules, or even a sense of “what’s the point?” can stop us from acting. But when the council counts each and every objection, even one more email or letter could tip the balance. Just think of that 8-year-old boy: his simple wish for nature’s peace, written in wobbly pencil, is as valid and weighty as any law or policy.

Let’s show the council, the developer, and our own children that we won’t stand by while our woodland is threatened.

Please take a few minutes today to send in your objection. Help others do the same. Share this email. Or pop into a tea room, pour yourself a cuppa, and put pen to paper for the future of our green spaces.

Together, let’s reach 1,000 objections – and beyond. Let’s make Littleover’s love for nature and our community too loud for anyone to ignore.

With gratitude and hope,

Ali Davies-Marsh
On behalf of the Greener Littleover Campaign
www.greenerlittleover.org.uk/moorwaylane

For info, and support: email ali@greenerlittleover.org.uk