Councillors defer decision on sale of land at Cut Lane/Caldershaw Road and Swift Road

Playing field at Cut Lane Caldershaw Road

Rochdale Township Committee has deferred a decision on the sale of land at Cut Lane/Caldersahw Road and Swift Road until applications for Village Green status have been decided.

In March 2015 councillors postponed making a decision on the sites until a site visit had been undertaken. Following that, members of the local community came together to continue their campaign to oppose the sale of land. Site visits were then taken out in August 2015.

http://www.rochdaleonline.co.uk/news-features/2/news-headlines/94579/people-power-postpones-sale-of-land

A Friends of Heritage Green campaign group was set up and an application was put in for Village Green status.

Local resident Margaret Bastow said: “We have applied for Village Green status and we are awaiting a decision. If a decision is made to sell this land, we will continue to fight this and if any of you were in our position, I know you would fight it the same way we will continue to do.”

Janice Arden added: “Consider the children; this is a safe place for them to play, away from busy roads and that is more important than buildings.”

Councillor Shaun O’Neil said: “I went on that site visit and there were a lot of people on Swift Road and on the playing field at Caldersahw Road. You could see that it is well used and that people are very enthusiastic by the turnout. I am not happy with the report we have been given and think it is low on information and we can’t make a real and proper decision.

“We also need to find out the appeals procedure that applies because from what I understand RMBC don’t know the appeals procedure.

“I think we should defer this decision until the Village Green status applications have been decided on.”

Councillors on the committee supported Councillor O’Neil’s proposal and agreed to defer the decision a second time.

The decision received a round of applause from members of the public.