Protecting plot in Padfield

Plans made five years ago that could lead to homes being built on open countryside in Padfield are likely to face opposition.

Save Roughfields is a group of people - brought together by concerned resident Halina Billingham -  to protect Roughfields on Padfield Main Road as a green space of special importance to the community.  

The steering group has a wealth of experience and knowledge of the area with a great mix of skills and experience in planning, ecology, and law, as well as public services such as the NHS and its members are determined to protect its future for all time.

The group sad: “Our hope is to work with the council for a resolution that benefits our community, whilst taking fair and appropriate action where necessary to prevent construction on the Roughfields site, so that it may be preserved as one of the few (if any) remaining local green spaces of its kind open to the public. 

“We are still mounting our case, the main concerns of the community are that any construction would destroy this much loved and well used amenity which has great significance in its unique character and long-standing use by the community. 

“There is also the concern that it would destroy the existing beauty of the natural landscape between the town and neighbouring Peak District National Park, creating an overdeveloped estate that would destroy the area’s unique aesthetic. 

“Overwhelmingly, we have seen concern for the mental and physical well-being of individuals, who testify to the beneficial nature of these special fields and worry that by losing a green open space that is so accessible they will start to see a decline in their physical and mental health.  

“We hope that by bringing our community together under one banner, we can show the council how much this space means and that they will work with us to Save Roughfields and preserve it for our future generations.”  

The Padfield Main Road field hit our headlines last week when High Peak Borough Council revealed it was one of four parts of Glossopdale where trial drilling was taking place as part of its ‘accelerated housing delivery programme’.

Alongside Adderley Place, Dinting; Paradise Street, Hadfield and Melinda Castle Road, Gamesley, it had been  allocated for residential use in the 2016 Local Plan.

The bore hole surveys were to check on the topography, ground conditions and ‘other constraints that might impact housing delivery’.

The council says there are currently no outline or confirmed proposals for any of the items.

Save Roughfield campaign manager Josh Asquith said: “Although we understand there is no planning as of yet, we are taking action to bring our community together in preparation for the event that the council tries to move forward with any works. 

“Ultimately our hope is that the council will see the reasoning behind the communities concerns and work with us to find a reasonable resolution.”

Main image:

CAMPAIGN: Save Roughfields campaign manager Joshua Asquith with the area of Padfield that members want to protect.

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