Councillors put back plans for a new hotel near Meadowhall yesterday because the South Yorkshire Passenger Transport Executive (SYPTE) claims the development would block a potential rail route.The courses of two disused railways cross the land between Barrow Road and Meadowhall Road, where permission for a five-storey hotel has been requested.
Tracks no longer exist on either route. The north – south route is now used as part of the Trans Pennine walking Trail, while the route crossing the site from east to west was a Barnsley – Rotherham rail link whose bridges have since been demolished.
The SYPTE objects to the hotel plans and is carrying out a study into improving links from Barnsley to Doncaster. The use of this rail link could create a direct route without passengers having to change trains at Meadowhall.
Access would also be improved to Robin Hood Airport where a new rail station is in the pipelines. The government want to improve public transport access to airports. In 2004 only 3% of airport users came by public transport, the Yorkshire and Humber region has a target of 20%.
A spokesperson from the hotel company yesterday told the council that the current site is a scrap yard and car sales showroom. He said that recent big events in Sheffield, such as the Red Hot Chilli Peppers concert, had highlighted the need for hotel accommodation in the city. He also said, “This project can contribute to Sheffield and be here when the Olympics come in 2012.”
The hotel site is just off Junction 34(N) of the M1. It is close to Meadowhall and its Transport Interchange and also the Lower Don Valley industrial area including the Centertainment complex.
Lib. Dem. Councillor John Hesketh called the land “an awful wreck of a site”. “We are in a difficult place. We need to welcome investment but need to encourage people to use public transport,” he said.
Chairman of the meeting, Labour Councillor Alan Law said of the planning application, “None of us wants to turn this away. It really is a wonderful opportunity.”
The council must now wait until January when the SYPTE’s report will determine whether the old railways need to be protected.
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