YOUR MEMORIES.
YOUR STORIES.
OUR HOBNEYS.
The Hobneys has been part of village life for generations. We’re collecting memories, experiences and personal testimonies to demonstrate what this landscape means to local people and why it deserves protection.
“The Hobneys helped shape who I am” My name is Kera Robson. I was born and raised in Donisthorpe and have lived here for all of my 37 years. To me, the Hobneys are far more than a collection of fields or a site reference on a planning document—they are part of my childhood, my identity and my home. Some of my happiest memories were made there. I remember walking through the fields and woodland with my late grandparents, exploring nature and imagining adventures like something from Winnie-the-Pooh and the Hundred Acre Wood. Those experiences gave me a lifelong love of wildlife, curiosity and the outdoors, and I genuinely believe they helped shape the person I am today. The Hobneys have been enjoyed by generations of local people. Children have raced sledges down the hills, families have walked together, people have exercised their dogs, and the land has hosted community activities and historical battle re-enactments. We have photographs showing this use over at least 30 years, as well as BBC East Midlands footage celebrating the Hobneys as a much-loved local sledging spot. Now that I am a mum of two young children, I want them to have the same opportunity—to explore, play, connect with nature and make memories of their own. Once a place like this is built upon, that opportunity is lost forever. I understand that new homes are needed, and I am not opposed to development in principle. However, I do not believe every piece of land is equal. The Hobneys contain historic hedgerows, ridge-and-furrow earthworks, ponds and habitats used by wildlife. The land also slopes towards Hooborough Brook, creating understandable concerns about drainage and increased surface-water runoff. Most importantly, the Hobneys hold something that cannot be measured simply in acres or housing numbers: generations of memories, community connection and a deeply rooted sense of place. You can build houses elsewhere, but you cannot recreate the childhoods, wildlife, history and emotional connection that would be lost here. That is why I believe the Hobneys should be protected for future generations, so that the children of Donisthorpe can continue making memories there just as generations before them have done. The Hobneys are not simply fields. They are part of who we are.
Kera
The proposed development will severely impact the amenity provided to the local community. When we move to Chapel Street in 2007, we were attracted by the house, whereas we fell in love with the view! The view across the fields towards the Lockharts National Forest plantation is appreciated by people, who often stop to show it to their children. Passersby often park their cars to take photo's of the vista. When there are sheep or cows in the fields, then crowds will appear to enjoy the spectacle. The footpaths across the fields are in regular use by hikers, dog walkers & people taking a pleasant sojourn to the Cricketts Inn at Acresford. In winter, the fields will be full of people sledging and snowballing. Developers are clearly aware of the value of this view, as recent developments place the grandest properties facing the valley. This is the case at the two developments at the corner of Chapel Street & Acresford Road. The wildlife presence in the valley is also a major attraction with buzzards and kites frequently seen hunting the rabbits & mice. The valley is also part of the range of the endangered bats hunting among the trees. Once this open space has gone, it will never return!! The proposed development will place additional pressure on the already over-stretched services. The water system cannot cope with the existing demand. There is a long-standing issue with sewage failing to flow properly along the sewers on Chapel Street, with foul smells being emitted regularly. There is another long-standing problem affecting water runoff on Chapel Street, with the street flooding after just moderate rainfall. These appear to be intractable problems that have not been solved for many years. Also, there is a multi-million pound project to divert water from Severn Trent sewage water treatment plants, currently under construction in the area, demonstrating that severe measures are required due to too much development having been allowed already.. Health services are already over-stretched in the area. For example, it is difficult to make an appointment to see doctors and dentists. Also, it is common to hear of people waiting for extended periods on trolleys, to be admitted for treatment at Burton Hospital. If this developmene this is of some t does proceed, it will be seen as a missed opportunity by future generations. If the land does need to be removed from agricultural use, then it is in a perfect position to be included in the National Forest, being adjacent to the Lockharts plantation. This leads to the creation of natural wildlife corridors, which could add to the species making the area home, and doing our part to help reverse the biodiversity decline. The area could even be considered for rewilding!
Dave
I am putting down in writing that I strongly object to the proposed development of The Hobneys (D2 site) off Chapel Street, Donisthorpe. I have lived in Donisthorpe for 38 of my 42 years, and The Hobneys has been an important part of my life for as long as I can remember. Some of my earliest memories are of walking across these fields with my parents along the public footpath that leads to the woodland, the old quarry and The Crickets pub. It is a route that generations of local people have enjoyed for decades. As a child, these fields were where we went sledging whenever it snowed. As I grew older, they remained a place where friends and I spent countless hours enjoying the outdoors. Like many children growing up in a small village, these fields were part of our childhood. Today I have two children of my own, and I have been fortunate enough to continue those same traditions. We now walk the same footpaths, enjoy the same countryside, go sledging on the same hills and visit The Crickets together. Very few places allow three generations of one family to share exactly the same experiences, and The Hobneys is one of those rare places. The views from these fields are, in my opinion, some of the finest in Donisthorpe. They give the village its true rural character and are a major reason why so many people value living here. Once these views and open countryside are replaced by housing, they are lost forever. Beyond my personal connection to this land, I have several serious concerns regarding the proposed development. Firstly, Donisthorpe has already experienced significant housing growth over the past 25 years with the construction of two modern housing estates. Our village has already contributed towards local housing needs, and I believe it is important that Donisthorpe remains the small rural village it has always been rather than continuing to expand into the surrounding countryside. Secondly, our local infrastructure is already under pressure. The village school is already operating at or near capacity. We have no village shops and very limited local services. Public transport is poor, meaning most residents rely on cars for everyday journeys. Adding a substantial number of new homes will inevitably place even greater pressure on facilities that are already stretched. Traffic and highway safety are also major concerns. Chapel Street is already a busy road, and the proposed site access is located near bends where visibility and vehicle speeds are a concern. Within the last three years there has been a serious collision in this location where a vehicle lost control, crashed through a wall and wrote off both itself and a parked vehicle. Had pedestrians been walking on the pavement at that moment, the consequences could have been far more serious. I have photographs documenting this incident, which I am prepared to submit as supporting evidence. I am also extremely concerned about drainage and flooding. I live on Chapel Street and have first-hand experience of the existing drainage problems. During periods of heavy rainfall, which seem to be occurring more frequently, the road outside my property regularly floods because the drainage system cannot cope. I have photographs and video evidence demonstrating these flooding issues. It is difficult to understand how adding further hard surfaces and increasing surface water runoff can be achieved without making an existing problem even worse. The Hobneys also provides valuable habitat for wildlife and forms an important green space connecting the village with the surrounding countryside. The public footpath is well used by walkers, families, runners and dog owners throughout the year. Although the footpath itself may remain, walking through an open countryside landscape is entirely different from walking through a housing development. The character of the route would be fundamentally changed. Open countryside such as this is increasingly important for people's physical and mental wellbeing. It provides somewhere to exercise, relax and enjoy nature within walking distance of home. Once built upon, this cannot be recreated elsewhere. For me, this objection is not simply about resisting change. It is about protecting a place that has shaped my childhood, allowed me to create the same memories with my own children, and continues to define the character of Donisthorpe today. Future generations deserve the opportunity to enjoy these fields in the same way that my parents, my children and I have. I respectfully ask the Council to refuse this proposal and protect The Hobneys from development for the benefit of current residents, future generations, local wildlife and the unique rural character of Donisthorpe. Thank you for taking the time to consider my comments.
Greg
my grandma and grandad took my mum and my auntie to the hobneys on high days and holidays for a day out. They walked over there, looking for insects bee and wild meadow flowers all the way down to the far corner (near Acesford) where there is a stream. Mum and her sister used to paddle there, again looking for any natural wildlife in the waters edge while sitting quietly eating there packed sandwiches. They said it was lovely and the these happy memories of those daughter held with her until my grandma, grandad and mum passed away. My Aunty is still recalling these fond memories of her childhood. I myself have walked the Hobneys many times reflecting on my families happy times. The are gives me great comfort. I've also taken my adult child over this area recalling and repeating the Family history connection. My husband now has COPD we walk the village. He always stops at the field gate to rest and take in the wonderful view. I saw that someone else had posted about Lord and Lady Turner using this area for the burial of their family pet dogs over the years. I also know (from my grandparents) that Lord Turner often used the field as a short cut to visit someone in Acesford.
Alicia
The Stories & feelings of the Hobneys