| South Leverton | |
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South Leverton
South Leverton shown within Nottinghamshire |
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| Population | 478 (2001 census) |
|---|---|
| OS grid reference | SK783809 |
| District | Bassetlaw |
| Shire county | Nottinghamshire |
| Region | East Midlands |
| Country | England |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Post town | RETFORD |
| Postcode district | DN22 |
| Dialling code | 01427 |
| Police | Nottinghamshire |
| Fire | Nottinghamshire |
| Ambulance | East Midlands |
| EU Parliament | East Midlands |
| UK Parliament | Bassetlaw |
| List of places: UK • England • Nottinghamshire | |
South Leverton is a village and civil parish in Bassetlaw, north Nottinghamshire, England, four miles from Retford. According to the 2001 census it has a population of 478.[1]
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South Leverton has a village hall, public house and private school called Orchard School. The parish covers a large area in an east-west direction, stetching across to Cottam in the east and Grove in the west. The parish boundary stretches right to the perimeter of the power station itself, along Cottam Road. To the north is North Leverton with Habblesthorpe and Treswell is to the south. Cottam Power Station is actually in the parish of Treswell. The division between South and North Leverton is the level crossing of the railway that runs through the parish, and eventually to a power station two miles to the south-east.
The parish church is All Saints,dating fom the 12th century. The village pub is The Plough and is the centre of much village activity. The Railway Inn, formerly next to the level crossing and in the parish, has been demolished. Leverton railway station closed to passengers in 1959, and was on the Manchester, Sheffield and Lincolnshire Railway line that went from Retford over the Trent to Lincoln Central; it now takes a longer route via Gainsborough Lea Road.
A wind farm to be known as the Cottam Wind Farm, comprising up to twelve wind turbines up to 145m in height, is proposed to be built between the village and Cottam by the German company Prowind.[2] Most of it will be in the east of the parish, with only one turbine in Cottam parish. This form of power generation will complement the large coal- and gas-fired power stations at Cottam and West Burton.
The South Leverton Parish Council conducted a survey to find out the level of support for the wind farm to the east of the village. Out of 305 votes cast (approximately two thirds of the total population), 299 votes (98.0%) were opposed to the plans. The South Leverton Parish Council said that it was "very pleased with the large number of parishioners who voted" and with the "overwhelming vote against the development", and that the data "completely contradicts the developer's assertion that 50% of the villagers were in favour of the wind farm."[3]
South Leverton gives its name to the oilfield which runs beneath it,[4] although the well heads are located in nearby Treswell.[5] The field produces high-grade crude oil, which is taken by road to a collection centre at Gainsborough, from where it is transferred by rail to be refined at Immingham. Because of its quality, it is used for the production of chemicals and plastics, rather than for fuel.[6] Oil was discovered at South Leverton in the late 1950s or early 1960s, after Dr Mosaddeq took power in Iran and nationalised the oil industry there. Displaced engineers working for British Petroleum returned to the UK, and South Leverton was one of several oilfields which were identified at that time as a result of their exploration skills.[7]