Springfield Park still threatened

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Friends of Springfield Park fear that the bid to build a 30-bay golf driving range with a 20 metre high fence is back on the cards.

Link4Life, the council's arms length management organisation for sport and leisure, withdrew their controversial planning application in October 2009; however, there are fears that Link4Life will soon resubmit the application.

The application was the subject of huge numbers of objection letters from residents, Sport England, the Ecological Unit in Manchester, and the non-departmental public body under the Department for Culture, Media and Sport, which is in charge of sport at grassroots level, also spoke out against the plans.

However, if a new application is submitted, the previous letters of objection will not be taken into account; objectors will have to object again.

The Friends of Springfield Park Group is in the process of applying for funding, to enable them to rejuvenate the park for the community. This includes plans to improve the cricket square and football pitches, as well as introducing a fishing lake for children in the lower part of the park.

The group says it is keen for Link4Life and Rochdale Council to clarify their position over the driving range, and they are pressing for the £300,000 which was initially set aside for it to be ploughed into developing the park for the community instead.

Frank Salt, Independent candidate for Castleton in the forthcoming local elections, has slammed  Lib Dem councillors for supporting the golf driving range proposal. Mr Salt said: "Springfield Park is a superb amenity used by many Castleton residents and it is a disgrace the majority of local people will be robbed of the enjoyment of the park for the very small minority who will use a golf driving range.

"Springfield Park is a much treasured open green space for many Rochdale people, but particularly for Castleton folk, due to its spaciousness, closeness and ease of access.
Generations of families have enjoyed the many, many acres of grassland playing field for every type of leisure activity from family picnics, ball games, dog exercising and general, casual sporting activities, etc."

Even golfers say they cannot see the need for a driving range. Golfer Tommy Ingham said: "Being a 'golfer' I cannot see the need for a driving range. I hope that the people of Castleton, Sudden and Marland take pride in what is a very attractive amenity for everyone who loves open spaces and pleasant walks and the beauty of Mother Nature."

A spokeswoman for Rochdale Council said: "Link4Life are looking at the implications of the original objections from Sport England and the Ecological Unit in Manchester regarding bat protection. No timescale has been attached to any re-submission."