Greenbelt campaigners march crosses Rochdale and Bury boroughs

Greenbelt campaigners from Rochdale and Bury gathered on Saturday 9 March to protest against the Greater Manchester Spatial Framework plans to build on greenbelt land.

The march started from the Farmers Arms (Simister) and campaigners walked through Simister, into Bowlee (Rochdale), along Simon Lane and over the M62 (back into Bury) finishing up at Lady Wilton Hall in Simister.

Chairman of the Friends of Bowlee, Eric Larmett, a chartered surveyor, said: “This second draft finds Rochdale looking to build far more houses than required. Firstly, the housing needs projections are based on out of date data – 2014 population projection instead of the 2016 population projection figures issued by the Office of National Statistics. Using this old data skews the housing need hugely upwards.

“The latest draft is very flawed in its continuing take up of green land in and around the Heywood/Bury boundary. This land take is all valuable farmland, a haven for wildlife and producing much needed food. The loss of this prime green farmland will decimate the wildlife and produce untold damage to our already stretched infrastructure.

“No significant infrastructure is planned that will assist particularly for commuting. This end of Rochdale is already bottlenecked at peak hours and the plans can only make matters worse.”

 

 

 

Land put forward locally includes Bamford and Norden, Castleton Sidings, Crimble Mill, land north of Smithy Bridge, Newhey Quarry, Roch Valley and Trows Farm.

• www.rochdaleonline.co.uk/news-features/2/news-headlines/125461/guide-to-the-nine-new-green-belt-sites-included-in-revised-masterplan

The consultation for the Greater Manchester Spatial Framework, currently in its second draft, will close this Monday 18 March 2019.

Have your say:

• www.gmconsult.org/communications-and-engagement-team/gmsf/
• Send postal objections to: Planning Team Consultation, GMCA, Church gate House, 56 Oxford St, Manchester M1 6EU
• Email: planningandhousing@greatermanchester-ca.gov.uk