Sheffield, Doncaster, Bassetlaw
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LOCAL GOVERNMENT BOUNDARY COMMISSION FOR ENGLAND REVIEW OF SOUTH YORKSHIRE THE METROPOLITAN BOROUGH OF ROTHERHAM Boundaries with: SHEFFIELD DONCASTER BASSETLAW BOLSOVER N. E. DERBYSHIRE BARNSLEY DONCASTER SHEFFIELD \ ^ ? BASSETLAW N. E. DERBYSHIRE BOLSOVER REPORT NO. 670 LOCAL GOVERNMENT BOUNDARY COMMISSION FOR ENGLAND REPORT NO 670 LOCAL GOVERNMENT BOUNDARY COMMISSION FOR ENGLAND CHAIRMAN Mr K F J Ennals CB MEMBERS Mr G R Prentice Mrs H R V Sarkany Mr C W Smith Professor K Young THE RT HON MICHAEL HOWARD QC MP SECRETARY OF STATE FOR THE ENVIRONMENT REVIEW OF SOUTH YORKSHIRE THE METROPOLITAN BOROUGH OF ROTHERHAM AND ITS BOUNDARIES WITH THE CITY OF SHEFFIELD, THE METROPOLITAN BOROUGH OF DONCASTER, THE DISTRICT OF BASSETLAW IN NOTTINGHAMSHIRE AND THE DISTRICTS OF 'BOLSOVER AND NORTH EAST DERBYSHIRE IN DERBYSHIRE ,THE COMMISSION'S FINAL REPORT AND PROPOSALS INTRODUCTION i 1 . This report contains our final proposals for the Metropolitan Borough of Rotherham's boundaries with the City of Sheffield, the 'Metropolitan Borough of Doncaster, the District of Bassetlaw in Nottinghamshire, and the Districts of Bolsover and North East Derbyshire in Derbyshire. We are not suggesting any radical 'changes but are making a number of minor proposals to make the Boundary more clearly identifiable and to remove anomalies. Our Recommendations in respect of Rotherham's boundary with Barnsley are contained in our earlier report No. 601. ANNOUNCEMENT OF THE START OF THE REVIEW i 2. On 1 September 1987 we wrote to Rotherham Metropolitan Borough Council announcing our intention to undertake a review of Rotherham as part of the Mandatory Review of South Yorkshire and the districts within it under Section 48(1) of the Local iGovernment Act 1972, i 3. Copies of our letter were sent to the adjoining Metropolitan Boroughs; to the county and district councils bordering the metropolitan area; to parish councils in Rotherham and the adjoining districts; to the local authority associations; to i Members of Parliament with constituency interests; to the headquarters of the main political parties; to the local press, television and radio stations; and to a number of other interested persons and organisations. 4. To enable the Commission to fulfil its obligations under Section 60(1) of the Local Government Act 1972, the Metropolitan Boroughs were requested, in co-operation as necessary with other local authorities, to insert a notice for two successive weeks in local newspapers to give wide publicity to the start of the review in the area concerned. 5. A period of seven months from the date of our letter was allowed for all local authorities, including those in the surrounding counties, and any person or body interested in the review, to send us their detailed views on whether changes to Rotherham1s boundaries were desirable; and if so, what those changes should be and how they would best meet the criterion of effective and convenient local government as prescribed by section 47(1) of the Act. THE SUBMISSIONS MADE TO OS 6. In response to our letter of 1 September 1987 we received representations from Rotherham MBC and the other local authorities concerned, together with representations from a number of local businesses and approximately one hundred and fifty individuals. ANNOUNCEMENT OF OUR DRAFT PROPOSALS/INTERIM DECISIONS 7. After considering these representations, we published a consultation letter on 8 August 1989 announcing our draft proposals and interim decisions for Rotherham. Copies were sent to the authorities concerned and to all those who had made representations to us. The assistance of the relevant councils was sought in giving publicity to our draft proposals. Comments were invited by 13 October 1989. RESPONSE TO OUR DRAFT PROPOSALS/INTERIM DECISIONS 8. In response to our letter of 8 August 1989, we received representations from Rotherham and Doncaster Metropolitan Borough Councils, Sheffield City Council, Derbyshire County Council, the District Councils of Bassetlaw, Bolsover and North East Derbyshire, the Parish Councils of Barlborough, Braithwell, iConisborough Parks, Harthill with Woodall, Orgreave, Ravenfield and Stainton; several local organisations, including the Tinsley Forum; and a number of local residents. i ANNOUNCEMENT OF OUR FURTHER DRAFT PROPOSALS i 9. After considering these representations, we decided to issue further draft proposals in respect of Rotherham's boundaries with Bolsover and Sheffield. The letter announcing our further draft proposals was published on 3 March 1992. Copies were sent to the local authorities concerned, asking them to place the further draft proposals on display, and to other interested organisations and persons who had made representations to us or who had expressed an interest. Comments were invited by 28 April 1992. RESPONSE TO OUR FURTHER DRAFT PROPOSALS 10. In response to our further draft proposals, we received comments from Rotherham and Doncaster Metropolitan Borough Councils, Sheffield City Council, Derbyshire County Council, the District Councils of North East Derbyshire and Bassetlaw, the Parish Councils of Braithwell, Harthill with Woodall and Orgreave, the Tinsley Forum, the Head Teacher of Park House School, South Yorkshire Police and eight local residents. i 11. As required by Section 60 (2) of the Local Government Act 1972, we have carefully considered all the representations made to us at each stage of the review. The following paragraphs explain how we arrived at our final proposals. THE BOUNDARY BETWEEN ROTHERHAM AND DONCASTER Mexborough Curve Draft Proposal 12. Rotherham suggested amending the boundary in the vicinity of the Mexborough Curve and Junction so as to unite in Doncaster the Whitelea Industrial Estate which is divided by the present boundary and accessible only from Doncaster. Rotherham suggested that a realignment using the centre of the Mexborough Curve railway line would provide an identifiable boundary. 13. We agreed that it would be sensible to unite the Whitelea Industrial Estate in Doncaster but concluded that a better boundary would be to use the eastern embankment of the railway line, thus retaining British Rail property within one local authority. 14. We decided, therefore, to adopt Rotherham1s suggestion as the basis of our draft proposal but to use the eastern embankment of the Mexborough Curve. Final Proposal 15. Doncaster supported our draft proposal and Rotherham raised no objections. We received no other representations and have decided to confirm our draft proposal as final. Fox Well to Hill Top; Old Denaby Draft Proposal 16. Rotherham suggested realigning the boundary in the vicinity of Old Denaby. It pointed out that the existing boundary was no longer identifiable, as a result of ploughing, and suggested using footpaths and field boundaries to provide a more readily identifiable boundary. Rotherham also suggested realigning the currently defaced boundary at Fox Well so as to unite that property and its grounds in Doncaster. 17. We agreed that Rotherham's suggestion would provide a more easily identifiable boundary and decided to adopt it as our draft proposal. Final Proposal 18. Doncaster and Rotherham supported our draft proposal. We received no other representations and have decided to confirm it as final. i Firsby Lane, Hill Top i Draft Proposal 19. Rotherham suggested realigning the boundary to Firsby Lane since the current boundary was no longer identifiable, as a result of ploughing, and was also defaced in the area of the abandoned quarry workings. i 20. We noted that the current boundary split the property of Toll Bar House at Hill Top and that Rotherham's suggestion would unite the property in Rotherham, although separating it from the village of Hill Top which is in Doncaster. 21 . We agreed that Rotherham's suggestion would provide a better boundary in the area but saw no benefit in separating Toll Bar House from the rest of the community at Hill Top. We therefore decided to adopt Rotherham's suggestion as the basis of our draft proposal but to use the western side of Firsby Lane so as to unite Toll Bar House in Doncaster. Final Proposal 22. Doncaster and Rotherham supported our draft proposal. Rotherham, however, suggested realigning the boundary down the west side of Firsby Lane to Firsby Reservoir Cottage so that Doncaster would be wholly responsible for highway maintenance of the lane. Ravenfield Residents' Association also supported the draft proposal but submitted an alternative suggestion for the electoral consequences. Conisborough Parks Parish Council opposed the proposal saying that it considered the existing boundary to be satisfactory. 23. We considered that, whilst Rotherham1s suggestion would consolidate the highway maintenance responsibilities for Firsby Lane in Doncaster, all the properties to the south of the Lane would be located in Rotherham, and it seemed unreasonable to require Doncaster to maintain the access to them. We also considered the Residents' Association's suggestion, but noted that there had been no objection to the electoral consequential from either Rotherham or Doncaster. We have therefore decided to confirm our draft proposal as final. Braithwell Common to Scotch Spring Lane Draft Proposal 24. Rotherham suggested a major realignment in this area to provide a clear and identifiable boundary and proposed the transfer of Braithwell Common and Scotch Spring Lane to its authority. Doncaster suggested two minor realignments, at Hellaby Lane and at Fish Pond Lane, to simplify highway maintenance. 25. We noted that Doncaster's suggestion would leave the hamlet of Silverthorpe in Doncaster but we agreed with Rotherham that the hamlet seemed to have a stronger affinity with Ravenfield in Rotherham than with Doncaster. We also considered the suggestion lin respect of Fish Pond Lane and Stainton Lane but noted that Doncaster's suggestion did not follow Stainton Lane throughout its length. .26. We considered that Rotherham's suggestion would provide'a i clearer and more readily identifiable boundary and decided, therefore, to adopt it as our draft proposal. Final Proposal 27. We received a large response to the draft proposal.