Heritage Green to be recommended for approval as a Village Green

The Friends of Heritage Green, Norden

Heritage Green (field near Cut Lane, Shearing Avenue and Caldershaw Road, Norden) is to be recommended for approval as a Village Green.

Being registered as a Village Green will preserve Heritage Green for use for recreation and leisure purposes for the long term and prevent changing the use of the field for housing development.

The Friends of Heritage Green discovered the news when they received a detailed draft paper, from Cheshire East Borough Council’s legal team, supporting the claim to register the field as a Village Green.

The process has been ongoing since May 2015 and in March 2016 Rochdale Council delegated the decision to Cheshire East Borough Council as Rochdale Council believes there may be a conflict of interest if it determines the outcome itself given Rochdale Council owns the land.

Mark Hope, a spokesman for the Friends of Heritage Green, said: “The Friends of Heritage Green are delighted that its considerable efforts have led to this recommendation.

"Reading the paper brought a lump to my throat as the content confirmed in great detail that the group has proven its case with a huge weight of evidence which appears to lead Cheshire East Borough Council to only one possible conclusion, that the field should be registered.

“We have done the best we can as mere amateurs and it is amazing that we have got this far without any legal help, which the group simply cannot afford as this would cost thousands of pounds. It should not be underestimated how impressive success with the application would be as the granting of registration is as rare as hen’s teeth.”

The final hurdle will be the vote by the relevant councillors of Cheshire East Borough Council’s Public Rights of Way Committee on 4 December.

Mr Hope added: “Fingers crossed for 4 December. Whilst all looks well, it will be a relief to see the vote go our way and then we can really celebrate.”