Proposed New Roads and Open Spaces
June, 1925 - A comprehensive report on the Rotherham regional planning scheme, prepared by Mr. W. R. Pavidge, and containing numerous photographic illustrations and maps, has just been published. The local authorities and areas included in the scheme are the Rotherham County Borough, the urban districts of Greasbrough, Rawmarsh, Swinton, and Wath-upon-Dearne, the rural districts of Kiveton Park and Rotherham (excluding the parishes of Brampton Bierlow and Wentworth), the above two parishes, and the Maltby Urban District Council. The total acreage is 70,127, with a population of 168,895, and a rateable value of £887,109.
The Rotherham Regional Planning Committee has approved the report and the draft proposals, and recommends that the constituent authorities should embody such proposals in their individual town planning schemes. The general recommendations are dealt with under the heads of improvement of present transit facilities, new road proposals, preliminary zoning of areas for industrial and residential use, reservation of open spaces for recreation, and protection of amenities.
The most important of the new road proposals include the construction of a main development or industrial road, 120ft. wide, along the north side of the Don Valley, in extension of the recently constructed road from Sheffield to Masbrough; a second industrial road, 100ft. wide, on the south side of the Don; a 100ft. road up the Herringthorpe Valley; and several by-pass roads. It is recommended that the principal industrial areas should be located in the valleys of the Don and Rother.
With regard to open spaces, the general and principal recommendation is that there should be a children's playground within five minutes of every house, and that there should be a public park or a recreation or sports ground within not more than a quarter of an hour's journey. With regard to trees and tree planting, it is pointed out that large areas of woodland in the region have suffered severely in recent years owing to the near approach of industries. A general survey of the region shows that there are many areas, especially on high land with steep slopes, which are adapted for tree planting, and it is urged that every effort should be made to retain such spots as woods for public recreation.
