Locals declared they were "gutted" when – hours after going on a site visit – the committee appeared to U-turn its own fears at the previous planning meeting... and granted outline permission for huge warehouses and factories, within metres of homes.

Backed by the Newsletter, the ArmNOgeddon protesters refuse to be beaten however.

If built it would put thousands more cars and lorries on local roads, so they are now urging the entire village to get behind them in a bid to have the scheme "called in" by the Government.

Armo-gutted

ARMTHORPE residents were left "disgusted and gutted" – after Doncaster Council's planning committee ACCEPTED Gazeley's proposed plans to dwarf the village.

For months, protestors have been battling against the 115-acre outline application from global planners Gazeley, to turn land between West Moor Park and the village itself, into a vast industrial site.

But the ArmNOgeddon campaigners were left heartbroken when the Council's planning committee supported the application – so long as the three smallest units, set to be 30 metres away from residential homes, were no taller than 5m high.

Campaigner Yvonne Cooke, of Dickans Gardens, said: "I'm gutted. How would they like huge buildings outside of their homes? I can't believe they've supported this. Why?".

Her husband Terry added: "These plans have cost us £20,000 on our house. It is disgusting. Will they be giving me a cheque for the money I'm losing?"

The Newsletter first revealed the audacious plans to turn 50 hectares of green space into units used for light industry, manufacture and office space, last June.

During the planning meeting, Mick Hull, of Haldynby Gardens, said: "We weren't notified of the plans. If it weren't for the Armthorpe Newsletter, we would have never known about this."

The protesters put 87 objections and a petition with 511 signatures to the planning committee.

These were accompanied by a huge list of objections from Armthorpe Parish Council – with neighbouring Cantley and Branton parish councils and the Campaign to Protect Rural England (CPRE) also opposing the development.

Yet the planning committee had reservations only about the three smallest units, although committee member, Coun Ted Kitchen told the meeting: "If it were up to me, I wouldn't have this – I wouldn't want it."

Coun Scott Pickles spoke on behalf of Armthorpe Parish Council, to outline 10 objections to the plans, including its detrimental effect on the village and increased traffic congestion.

The Gazeley bid includes parking for 930 cars and 368 HGVs.

Coun Pickles said: "We all know Armthorpe has bad traffic flow at the moment – but by 2018 it won't bear thinking about".

And before the crunch meeting, on Tuesday, January 6, CPRE again blasted Gazeley's plans to build the massive "tin sheds" because of a major loss of hedge-rows and 1.7km of woodland over 200 years old – inhabited by wildlife and a protected species, the Brandt's bat.

CPRE South Yorkshire's planning officer John King said: "The site has some really rare and important hedgerows. Providing access doesn't make up for their destruction.

"Who would want to go through an industrial estate to get to their favourite woodland?"

Questioning Doncaster Council's planning procedures, he went on: "We understand that Doncaster is looking for strategic employment sites.

"They should have gone through the Local Development Framework which would have been the correct way to choose the least damaging
place for this massive development."

Hours after the planners' decision, Armthorpe Parish Council's January meeting saw the formation of a councillors' and residents' committee, to appeal to the Goverment to "call in" the application for a public inquiry.

Clerk Graham Shephard added: "We need as many letters sent as possible, explaining why people think the plans should be refused.

"There were a number of objections regarding the original West Moor Park in the 1990s and this could be a major factor in getting it called in."

Doncaster Council told the Newsletter; "The application must be referred to Government Office for Yorkshire and the Humber, as the proposal is for development not in accordance with the allocation of the land on the current Development Plan for the Borough (ie Countryside Policy Area).

"Once referred, Government Office must decide whether to 'call-in' the application and hold a public inquiry, or whether the application is of local significance only – therefore only DMBC can determine it."

How you can fight on

The Gazeley application will now go to the Government Office for Yorkshire and the Humber, who will decide whether to "call it in" for a public inquiry, or let Doncaster Council adjudicate the bid.

As many INDIVIDUAL letters of objection as possible should now be sent to the following address: Government Office for Yorkshire and the Humber, Planning Casework Team, First Floor, Nidd Wing, 8, City Walk Leeds LS11 9AT