A Road to Ruin

Locals turn ugly as a 'balmy' council plans to drive a road through an area of outstanding natural beauty.

An out of control borough council in Derbyshire has formed a dubious partnership with a multi-million pound property company. Their aim is to develop the largest brown-field site in the UK - and in the process rake in millions.

In an effort to take their profits to a level that can only be described as stratospheric, the council is backing an insane plan to drive a five-mile multi-lane access route slap-bang through the middle of their own green belt - and one of the most beautiful landscapes in Derbyshire.

They call it the cheapest option. This video shows what the real cost will be - the loss of an area of priceless natural beauty that until now few even realise existed.

Unlike many 'green' protests that are fanned by environmental groups and attended by people wearing sandals, this has a wholly different complexion.

Here the cudgels are being taken up by townies - ordinary people who wouldn't know the difference between a cow pat and a daffodil. What they do know however is that spaces like this shouldn't be messed with. It's a space that looks like it's going to become very up-close and personal. Stay tuned as they say!

NOTE: It's well worth taking the time to watch this video at the higher quality setting.

Category:

Nonprofits & Activism

Tags:

• ruin
• access
• road
• stanton-by-dale
• erewash
• spring
• brownfield
• ironworks
• risley
• dale
• abbey
• Ilkeston

[betamaxtape]

Bless the parish council for buying a tripod to make this. And how did they get Peter Stringfellow to do the voiceover? But seriously... typical NIMBY propaganda. What is wrong with creating new homes, jobs, amenities on the complete eyesore that is the old Stanton Iron works? Get rid of this blot on the landscape for good! Would have been ok if it wasn't such a reactionary, sensationalist, unbalanced piece of work.

[stantonvoice]

With a user name like Betamaxtape I'm afraid that says it all - bless!

[jeno806]

Can we see more footage of the tractor around the four minute mark. Thanks. Oh and I am against the road.

[stantonvoice]

You sure can! Just hit the play button again and as if by magic ...

[schwim2win]

nice video, but in the interest of a balanced view where are the plans showing all the alternatives and views from the planning authority and scheme promoter. well put together propoganda flick.

[stantonvoice]

Up to now we've heard nothing BUT the views of Erewash Council and Spring. This is Joe Public's ten minutes worth and it hasn't even started to redress the imbalance.

[kingstonblack]

Like others, I too am not a NIMBY as I don't live in Sandiacre any more. However, I was born and bred in Sandiacre, attending Ladycross, Cloudside and Friesland schools; my mum still lives in Sandiacre. As a kid, we'd spend hours walking and playing in this area, up Risley Brook, across the fields to the Wizened Oak, and down into Stanton to try to fish in the pond. It was our safe playground and I'd wish to see that preserved for future children to enjoy as much as we did.

[blaze591]

I guess what's proposed is the building is a lot of houses on an area which frankly, when it was Stanton Steelworks, was a total eyesore, so to paint this as vandalism is a bit strong. I guess the best solution to the road is to build a junction to the M1. What I really object to is the constant Mugabe references in this video - the guy's a mass murderer and to compare this scheme to what's happening in Zimbabwe just make the makers of the video look like rather petty minded Nimbies.

[alanward55]

There can few who do not share the sentiments expressed in the video, and very many who would join the fight to get it replaced by one of the alternative routes. For local convenience, the new M1 junction alternative may be preferred, but realistically, it is a non-starter, so talking about it is falling into the developers hands. All alternatives will have affects on people, and each will attract its own nimbies, but only this disastrous alternative will affect a wide variety of people.

[technogeist]

Protest will not help.

Fight for it.

I'm in, contact me.

[veravista50]

Typical.  Can't be allowed to happen

[jd339]

I cannot believe that Erewash Borough Council who are supposed to represent local people are contemplating ruining our countryside now and for ever..What right have they to even consider going through our GREEN BELT. Whoever has voted for this proposed route through our lovely countrside should be..... NAMED AND SHAMED.......RESIGN NOW!

[lovetheskinyourin]

I have sent my protest email. is anyone on here up to starting a petion on the number 10 Downing Street petition site

[lovetheskinyourin]

i have sent my protest email, is anyone on here up to starting a petion on the 10 Downing Street petition site??