Wincobank Roman Ridge at risk. ACT NOW!

This is the route of Roman Ridge under threat from housing development. The actual man-made dyke, now thought to have been constructed long before the Romans even set foot on this island, has probably been destroyed by previous mining activity but that does not mean it should be disregarded as an area of historic importance.  It is the joining section between remaining parts of the Scheduled Monument and one of the few remaining sections of its 27km stretch where you can get a sense of what it was like to travel along the prehistoric causeway and pass by Wincobank Hill Fort just as today's travellers drive past Sheffield on the M1 and glance up at the tree covered hilltop and wonder what is up there.  A real and tangible connection with the past to be preserved and experienced so that we can understand the full story of technological advance and the engineering that made this country great.
Help us save this designated Open Space from the challenge to its protected status.  Make your obection now.  Email howard.baxter@sheffield.gov.uk quoting planning application reference 11/03972/FUL.  The deadline to objections to the housing development is 1st February 2012.
For further details visit our website http://www.wincobankhill.btck.co.uk/ or email friendsofwincobankhill@gmail.com

A New Year surprise

The 3rd Annual General meeting got off to an amazing start when new member John Abdullah and his daughter arrived with a very special surprise - two tiny flint tools which he had found and which have now been dated to between 1,500 and 2,500 BC. The workmanship is extraordinarily delicate and has to be seen at close quarters to be believed.

John has kindly loaned them to the Friends of Wincobank Hill.

Lord Mayor Cllr Dr Sylvia Dunkley and her husband stayed for the evening to hear a round up of the year's FoWH activities and plans by the Woodlands Heritage team for a new information and archive website, the restoration of paths, interpretative signage and maps for walks on the hill. 

Terry Howard, Chair of Sheffield Ramblers, introduced to us the longer walks he has developed that incorporate the hill and he also talked about his Great Grandfather's connection with Grimesthorpe Colliery.   

Ron Clayton gave an update on the campaign to reveal the ruins of Sheffield Castle and Lewis Sadler from Sheffield Astronomy Society offered to lead star-gazing sessions on Wincobank Common near the Cartimandua Star-Crossed Queeen monument which shows a winter sky star map. 

Finally David Anson brought us up to speed on the threat of further development on the Sandstone estate, on the south side of the hill just a stone's throw away from the monument. 

The following day news reached us that the application has now been lodged.

The Council has received a Full Planning Application that you may want to comment on.

To comment on an application you can either

• Go to our website www.sheffield.gov.uk/planning and follow the links to search for the planning application 11/03972/FUL.

 You can view a paper copy of the application, but you must make arrangements in advance by contacting the Records team on (0114) 20 39183.