Film star Sean Bean has paid tribute to the late Sapphire McCarthy, a campaigner who led the S13 Greenbelt Campaign against plans to build on the green belt in Sheffield, England. McCarthy, known as Saph, died suddenly at the age of 39 after leading the campaign after it was revealed that Sheffield Council had proposed plans for 1,638 homes on green belt land. The group has now been renamed ‘Save S13Greenbelt – The Sapphire McCarthy Campaign’ in her honour. If approved, the plans would see 868 homes built off Bramley Lane, with another 870 built on farmland off Finchwell Lane. Sean Bean, who is also from Handsworth, joined forces with the group and spoke with Sapphire about the plans. He believes that the passing of Sapphire will inspire others to resist the plans and that her loss will increase their motivation to fight them.
