Sean Bean criticises green belt plan in home city

Actor Sean Bean has said a plan to build homes on green belt land in the area where he grew up would "practically obliterate the character and nature of our area".

Sheffield City Council approved plans to build more than 1,700 homes in Handsworth as part of the city's local plan, which council leader Tom Hunt previously said was needed to "tackle the housing crisis".

In an email of objection seen by the BBC, Bafta-winning star Bean said: "It seems the council sees us as second-class citizens who will just have to put up with it."

Sheffield City Council has been contacted for comment.

Sadie Charlton, a member of a campaign group fighting the plan, said: "It's really boosted our morale and everybody's so thankful for him to take the time to put his voice forward because what he says in his objection is how we all feel."

The 36-year-old occupational therapist contacted Bean following the death of another campaigner, Sapphire McCarthy, who had previously been in touch with him.

"He was really interested in keeping in touch about how the campaign is going because obviously he cares about Handsworth," she added.

Bean, 66, who can currently be seen in gritty BBC drama This City Is Ours, submitted his objection less than two hours before the end of the consultation period.

He said: "It seems like this working-class community and its surrounding areas has been specifically targeted, while other more affluent, genteel areas on the other side of Sheffield have escaped lightly."

Ms Charlton added: "Before 24 April I didn't even know what a local plan was, and that really highlights in S13 we're not as politically engaged as areas of the west of Sheffield."

She said the campaign group was now called Save S13 Green Belt - The Sapphire McCarthy Campaign, in tribute to Ms McCarthy.

"Without her, none of this would have happened," Ms Charlton said.

"Not one person ever met her and didn't instantly just love her, and I suspect that Sean felt the same when he had conversations with her."

She said Bean had first phoned Ms McCarthy when she was shopping at a supermarket, and she told him to call her back.

In his objection email, Bean paid tribute to Ms McCarthy's "valiant and impassioned campaign".

Although the consultation period closed on 11 July, Ms Charlton said the campaign group would "rally on, carry on forward, get more people involved".

"The community have really rallied around and come together, so this is just the beginning for us," she said.

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