During his legendary on-screen career Sean Bean has taken on the armies of Napoleon, hordes of Uruk-hai and even James Bond.
But now the Hollywood icon faces what could be his toughest battle yet as he fights his local council in a bid to stop picturesque countryside being on by developers in Handsworth, Sheffield.
The Game of Thrones star has taken up the sword to help neighbours in their row over the decision to earmark two areas of greenbelt land for a huge 1,638 home scheme in his hometown.
The 66-year-old, who rose to fame in TV’s Sharpe before starring in The Lord of the Rings and GoldenEye, has joined furious locals who argue the new homes would overwhelm local infrastructure, increase pollution and harm public health.
Mr Bean, who was born and raised in the suburb, has joined the ‘Save S13 Greenbelt – The Sapphire McCarthy campaign’, named in memory of a local resident who died during the group’s bid to fight the plans.
Mother-of-two Sapphire McCarthy had launched the campaign against the proposed scheme to build 868 homes off Bramley Lane and another 870 on farmland off Finchwell Lane, fearing it would ruin her ‘dream views’.
Mr Bean, 66, has previously paid tribute to Ms McCarthy who sadly passed away, aged 39, in July and praised her ‘valiant and impassioned campaign’.
Sheffield City Council voted through the greenbelt scheme in May to form its local plan. It will now be up to the Government’s Planning Inspectors to decide whether the proposals are fair and robust and they will begin hearing on Monday.
The Labour Government has triggered a huge drive in the development of new housing projects across the country in recent months as part of its pledge to build 1.5 million new homes over the parliament.
Hollywood legend Sean Bean (pictured) has vowed to ‘not let go’ of greenbelt land earmarked for a huge 1,638 home development in his home city
The Game of Thrones star (pictured as his character Ned Stark) has joined forces with local residents as part of the ‘Save S13 Greenbelt – The Sapphire McCarthy campaign’
Sheffield City Council hopes to build 3,539 homes, two schools, a graveyard and 130 acres of business space on green belt land running between Richworth Road and Beaver Drive in Handsworth (pictured)
Mr Bean praised the community’s efforts in uniting together and fighting the plans with ‘passion and professionalism’ and how they had rallied to raise £10,000 to help with legal costs going forward.
The star said: ‘It is incredible that within four months we have come up with barristers, planning consultants, hundreds of objections and with no help from the council – the only help has been from MP Clive Betts.
‘We have got 4,000 signatures on a petition so it is incredible how the residents have brought themselves together and how they have managed to get all this armour around them in such a short space of time and shows they mean business – we mean business – we are not letting it go like that. We are not going to stop and we will see this through.’
He also told of his love of the area and its positive influence on him growing up, explaining how the S13 greenbelt plays an important part in the health and mental well-being of residents of all ages in the area.
He said: ‘The greenbelt means a lot to me as I grew up around that area and so did all my friends and families from the area that was the hub and the centre of the area where we explored the countryside and had a laugh and played games.
‘It is the only bit of greenery around that area so it was a magnet for kids growing up and seeing wildlife – it has for many years served the community of Handsworth and surrounding areas. It would be devastating if we lost it.
‘You have to have greenery, it’s a calming influence and good for you health and good for your mind – if you haven’t got that space around you mentally and psychologically it is damaging not to have that around you because you become insular and blinkered and very claustrophobic.
‘Its common land is the people’s land. The council owns it but what are they going to do – just flog it and keep the money? It will then be gone – they will have a bit of the money in the pockets and we have nothing,’
Sean week this week met with campaigners against the proposed scheme to build 868 homes off Bramley Lane and another 870 on farmland off Finchwell Lane
Mr Bean cited how Central Park in New York and common grounds in London like Wimbledon Common are recognised as being vital for mental and physical health of residents.
He questioned why Sheffield would take these areas away from the working class community.
Cheryl Hague, one of the campaigners who met with Sean Bean, said: ‘We are delighted to have Sean’s support on this crucial campaign and will carry on this fight with the planning inspector meetings which will be held next week.
‘We really hope the independent Government inspectors listen to our very real concerns and take on board what we have to say – something Sheffield City Council have failed to do from the outset. They did not want to listen to their electorate – it has been shameful.’
Sheffield City Council approved these greenbelt schemes, along with 12 others, in May as part of its local plan, a blueprint for future housing development.
