Treeton mining memorial to be moved back after complaints

A housing developer has agreed to move a mining memorial, following a string of complaints.

The pit wheel in Treeton was previously positioned to welcome visitors into the village.

However, it was moved by Jones Homes, during the construction of 94 houses on a new housing estate off Wood Lane.

Unhappy that the wheel had been moved to mark the entrance to the estate instead, 460 residents signed a petition for it to be repositioned.

The memorial was relocated to make way for road access to the estate, according to the Local Democracy Reporting Service.

However, Rotherham Metropolitan Borough Council requested the housebuilder reorient the wheel to face visitors on their approach into Treeton in South Yorkshire.

Treeton Parish Council added that the monument was "a gift and an important memorial to mine workers".

Jones Homes submitted a revised retrospective planning application to request the wheel remained where it was but it was refused.

The council accepted a further application for the wheel to be turned to welcome visitors into the village.

A report stated: "As a result of the unauthorised changes, the colliery wheel monument therefore acts as an entrance feature to the new housing estate, as opposed to the village as a whole.

"This amended proposal now intends to reposition the unauthorised monument so that it faces North East, fulfilling its purpose as an entrance feature to the village.

"This includes new brick/stone planters, the wheel itself and the coal wagons."

The existing unauthorised planters associated with the wheel would be partially retained on site as an additional landscape feature.

Chris Wilkins, the council's senior development manager, told the planning board meeting that the works are expected to begin by the start of May.

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