Newsletter September 2026
September is a busy month – and we need you with us! There is a real sense of momentum around the campaign at the moment, but this is also a crucial stage in the Sheffield Local Plan process.
Over the next few weeks we have another Council meeting, a further round of consultation, councillor site visits and, a little further ahead, something very special planned to bring our communities together. So this month, more than ever, we need your support, your presence and your voice.
GLOW FOR THE GREEN BELT – SATURDAY 3 OCTOBER
Last time we asked you to march with us, you turned out in incredible numbers and did us proud. We want to do it again! Those of you who joined our previous march will remember what an amazing event it was. The response from our communities was fantastic, with people of all ages coming together to stand up for the places we live and the Green Belt we want to protect. The turnout exceeded our expectations and the atmosphere was something very special.
On Saturday 3 October, we want to recreate that - but this time with a bit of a difference! We are going to Glow for the Green Belt, with two evening marches setting off from Grenoside and Chapeltown at 6pm, walking into the dusk and coming together at St. Mary’s Church, Ecclesfield. We want this to be a fabulous community event. Bring the family, bring the kids and bring the dog! We will have green glow sticks available and we would love to see hundreds of people lighting up the routes as we make our way towards Ecclesfield.
Our meeting points are on the path outside Grenoside Community Centre car park and The Miners Arms in Chapeltown. Both groups will then make their way to St. Mary’s, where we will come together as one community and Jo Tunstall will say a few words. You can either meet us at the start, join us on route, or meet us at St. Mary’s - whatever is easiest for you! Dogs are very welcome, but please keep them on a lead throughout.
There will be lots of people and activity, so if your dog is nervous around crowds, it may be happier staying at home. Of course, behind what we hope will be a fun and memorable evening is a serious message. Last time, you showed just how strongly our communities feel.
Now we need you to do it again. Saturday 3 October – 6pm. Let’s Glow for the Green Belt!
WE NEED YOU AT THE TOWN HALL – WEDNESDAY 23 SEPTEMBER
Our next big call to action comes even sooner. The next Full Council meeting takes place on Wednesday 23 September, starting at 2pm. We will be outside Sheffield Town Hall from 1pm – and we really need you there. There is a feeling that we are beginning to build some momentum.
Councillors are asking questions, further information is emerging through the examination and we continue to challenge the evidence behind the proposed Green Belt allocations. This is therefore a crucial time to show the Council that we have not gone away. We know it is a working day and not everyone can spare the time. But if you work in or around the city centre, could you join us in your lunch hour? Could you spare half an hour? Could you come along before the meeting? Numbers matter. Seeing residents standing outside the Town Hall sends a message that simply cannot be achieved through emails and social media alone.
Wednesday 23 September – outside the Town Hall from 1pm.
Sheffield Green Belt Alliance meets Council leaders
On 9 September, representatives of the Sheffield Green Belt Alliance (which included 4 members of CEG) met Councillor Fran Belbin, Leader of Sheffield City Council and the Labour Group, and Councillor Angela Argenzio, Leader of the Green Group.
This followed their visit to our seven local sites on 8 August, which we reported in our last newsletter. That visit enabled us to demonstrate the scale and proximity of the proposed developments and the transport, environmental and infrastructure issues that maps alone cannot convey. This latest meeting was deliberately broader and focused on Sheffield-wide concerns surrounding the Local Plan and Green Belt release.
We were pleased that Fran and Angela gave us the opportunity to discuss those concerns in detail and, importantly, listened to the issues and evidence we raised. We are now following up a number of matters arising from the discussion. Rather than different accounts emerging afterwards about what was or wasn’t said, jointly agreed notes of the meeting are being prepared, which we will share once they have been agreed. We continue to believe that genuine dialogue between residents, campaign groups and those making the decisions is far more productive than simply exchanging scripted questions and answers.
Green councillors are coming to see our sites Our invitation to councillors to come and see the proposed Green Belt sites for themselves continues. On Saturday 19 September, we will be taking three Green councillors around our seven sites in Chapeltown, Ecclesfield and Grenoside. We will show them the land, explain the individual issues associated with each site and, importantly, demonstrate the cumulative impact of concentrating so much proposed development within such a small area. So if you happen to see a group of us walking around the sites on Saturday – that’s what we’re doing!
We are pleased that councillors are taking up our invitation. Whatever their political party or current view of the Local Plan, we believe councillors should see for themselves the land they may ultimately be asked to vote on.
We need to be vigilant – help us protect our sites
We also raised a very concerning issue with Fran and Angela at our meeting on 9 September. Our fellow Green Belt campaigners in S13 have reported works taking place on land owned by the Duke of Norfolk Estates, including the digging of a substantial trench.
To add insult to injury, one of the campaign’s Save Our Green Belt placards was then attached to the digger.
Our S13 colleagues reported what had happened but were concerned by the limited response, so we made sure the issue was raised directly with Fran and Angela at our meeting. It is also a timely reminder for all of us.
We have seven proposed Green Belt sites across Chapeltown, Ecclesfield and Grenoside and we need to remain vigilant about what is happening on them. Our group is now looking at ways that local residents can help us keep an eye on these sites and, importantly, how any concerns about works, damage to habitats, removal of trees or hedgerows, digging or other unexpected activity can be properly recorded and reported.
We don’t want people putting themselves at risk or entering private land, but our communities know these places incredibly well and are often the first to notice when something changes. We will shortly put more information on our Facebook page about how you can help, and we will include a fuller update in our next newsletter.
Our Green Belt belongs to all of our communities to enjoy – and together we can help keep watch over it.
Our AGM
As the campaign has grown, it has become increasingly important that we maintain the proper governance and financial arrangements needed for an organisation such as ours. We therefore held our Annual General Meeting on Thursday 10 September.
The AGM included the Chair’s report, Treasurer’s report, election of officers and lead roles and approval of our updated Constitution. It might all sound rather formal for a community campaign, but having these arrangements properly documented is important, particularly given the money we raise and spend and the legal and professional work we are now involved in.
For anyone who would like to see them, our AGM minutes, accounts and updated Constitution can be accessed via the link below.
A FIFTH ROUND OF CONSULTATION
We have been informed that information relating to a further round of Main Modifications consultation is expected to be published early next week. This will be another important stage and we will be looking very carefully at what is published and what it means for our seven sites.
As soon as the information becomes available, our team will begin working through it. We will be preparing a response covering our local sites and coordinating with the Sheffield Green Belt Alliance on the wider Sheffield response. This is also likely to mean further work for the professional planners and solicitors supporting the campaign. Please keep a close eye on our Facebook page. We will post updates as soon as we have seen and understood the new information, including anything supporters can do to help with the consultation.
CASINO NIGHT POSTPONEMENT
We have taken the decision to postpone our Casino Night.
The main modifications consultation is now underway, and our efforts over the coming weeks need to be focused on responding to the Planning Inspectors. This is an important moment for our greenbelt and we want to give it everything we have.
We hope to rearrange in 2027 and will be in touch with members once we have a new date.
Everyone who has purchased a ticket has been contacted directly. If you have a ticket and haven't heard from us, please get in touch at savegandegreenbelt@gmail.com.
Thank you for bearing with us and for your ongoing support.
PETITION
Help us reach 10,000 signatures.
Our target remains 10,000 signatures on the Sheffield-wide Green Belt petition. Reaching that milestone would send an incredibly powerful message about the strength of public feeling across Sheffield.
If you haven’t signed yet, please do. If you have, please find one more person who hasn’t - a friend, neighbour, colleague or family member. If everyone does that, we can get there.
Fundraising – your support is needed
The next round of Main Modifications consultation means another significant piece of work for the campaign. We have professional planners and solicitors supporting us so that we can properly scrutinise the evidence, understand the implications of new documents and put forward the strongest possible case. That expertise costs money.
The August newsletter explained that we had already committed more than £30,000 to legal and professional advice. With further consultation now ahead of us, those costs will continue. If you are able to make a contribution – however large or small - it genuinely helps us keep doing this work.
Keep the momentum going
There is a lot happening. We are meeting Council leaders. Councillors are coming to see the sites. Another consultation is approaching. We will be back outside the Town Hall on 23 September. And on 3 October, we will bring our communities together to Glow for the Green Belt.
None of this happens without you. So please keep sharing our posts, talking to friends and neighbours, collecting petition signatures, supporting our fundraising – and, most importantly this month, come and stand with us.
23 September – Town Hall.
3 October – Glow for the Green Belt.
Our Voice. Our Green Belt. Our Future. Thank you, as always, for standing with us.
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