Conisbrough Councillors

12/10/2026

16/09/2026

EAGLE & CHILD FLATS - PLEASE READ

I understand residents have concerns and I am continuing to ask questions about the Eagle & Child flats.

However, as your ward councillor, I do not have executive powers to decide who can or cannot live in a privately owned property.

My role is to:

• Represent residents and raise your concerns
• Ask questions and obtain information
• Check that planning, housing and safety rules are being followed
• Hold the relevant authorities to account

On asylum dispersal generally: this is a national Home Office policy. The current Government continues to operate the Full Dispersal system across local-authority areas.

Importantly, I have been told that the Eagle & Child is NOT being used by the Home Office or Mears for asylum accommodation.

That is why I am continuing to establish who is responsible for the accommodation, what its authorised use is and whether all relevant requirements are being met.

I will continue asking the questions but I cannot exercise powers that a ward councillor simply does not have.

Cllr Rachel Reed
Conisbrough Ward

10/09/2026

EAGLE & CHILD FLATS, WEST STREET - I AM ASKING QUESTIONS

I have received a significant amount of correspondence from residents regarding the flats at the former Eagle & Child on West Street, Conisbrough.

I want residents to know that I am actively looking into the current use of the property and the arrangements surrounding the accommodation.

I have already received confirmation that the property is not being used by the Home Office or Mears for asylum accommodation. That is an important clarification, but it does not answer all of the questions residents have raised with me.

I have therefore asked City of Doncaster Council to establish:

• Whether the Council, one of its contractors, another public body or a commissioned organisation is placing, referring or supporting people into this accommodation.

• What the formal use of the nine flats currently is.

• Whether any public funding, housing payments or commissioned-service payments are being made in connection with the accommodation.

• Whether the conversion and present use of the property have the necessary Planning and Building Control approvals.

• Whether relevant Council services have inspected the premises since it became occupied and whether all appropriate housing and safety requirements are being met.

To be absolutely clear, I am not asking for the names, immigration status or private personal information of the people living there.

My responsibility as a ward councillor is to establish:

• What the building is being used for.

• Whether people are being officially referred or placed there.

• Which organisation is responsible for those arrangements.

• Whether public money is involved.

• Whether the appropriate planning, building and housing requirements are being followed.

Residents are asking legitimate questions and they deserve factual answers rather than speculation or rumours.

I will continue scrutinising the matter and will update residents when I receive a substantive response from the Council.

Cllr Rachel Reed
Conisbrough Ward

07/09/2026

06/09/2026

WHITESTONE SOLAR FARM – PLEASE REGISTER NOW

If you live in Conisbrough, Denaby, Mexborough, Hooton Roberts or the surrounding area, it is vital that you register as an Interested Party if you want your voice heard during the formal examination of the proposed Whitestone Solar Farm.

This is particularly important to me because our roads are already heavily congested. Residents regularly experience delays, and many of our local roads were never designed to cope with this volume of traffic. If they are struggling now, what will conditions be like with heavy lorries travelling through our communities every day during construction?

The applicant’s own assessment identifies significant construction traffic, including HGVs and workers’ vehicles using our local roads. There are serious questions about the potential impact on the A630, Hooton Roberts, Conisbrough Parks, air quality, road safety and the daily lives of local residents.

⏰ DEADLINE: 11.59PM ON FRIDAY 11 SEPTEMBER 2026

Register here:

https://national-infrastructure-consenting.planninginspectorate.gov.uk/projects/EN0110020/register/register-have-your-say

You do not need to write a lengthy statement. You can submit something simple and personal, such as:

“I am a local resident and regularly use the roads that could be affected by this development. Our roads are already heavily congested, and I am concerned about the impact of daily HGV movements on congestion, road safety and air quality. I would like to participate in the Whitestone Solar Farm Examination as an Interested Party.”

Please adapt this to include the issues that matter most to you. The important thing is to register before the deadline.

Register now. Make your voice heard. Every local voice matters.

Use this service to have your say about a national infrastructure project. We need your personal details and your comments about the Whitestone Solar Farm.

02/09/2026

UPDATE: EAGLE & CHILD, WEST STREET, CONISBROUGH

I want to provide residents with a clear and factual update following concerns and rumours regarding the Eagle & Child on West Street.

I have now received confirmation that the property is NOT being used to accommodate asylum seekers by the Home Office or Mears Housing, nor is it currently identified for this purpose.

For clarity, accommodation and support provided to asylum seekers, whether in dispersed housing or hotels, is managed directly by the Home Office and its housing provider, Mears Housing not by the City of Doncaster Council or other private social landlords.

Following the concerns raised with me, a specific property check was requested regarding the Eagle & Child, and the above confirmation has now been received.

I appreciate residents coming to me with their concerns. I will always seek the facts and provide you with accurate information rather than allow speculation or misinformation to cause unnecessary worry.

At present, the position is clear: the Eagle & Child is not being used, nor identified, by the Home Office or Mears Housing to accommodate asylum seekers.

Cllr Rachel Reed

01/09/2026

UPDATE – FORMER STATION PUB/HOTEL, CONISBROUGH

I’m aware of concerns and rumours circulating locally about the future use of the former Station pub/hotel in Conisbrough, including suggestions that it may be used to house asylum seekers or migrants.

I have made enquiries regarding the property.

At this stage, Doncaster Council has received no planning application from the developers for housing, flats or an HMO at this property.

Therefore, as things currently stand, there is nothing before the Council confirming what the building is intended to be used for.

I understand why residents are asking questions, and I will continue to keep a close eye on the situation. If any application or confirmed information regarding the future use of the building is received, I will make sure residents are kept informed.

Cllr Rachel Reed