CLAIRE Elliott, founder of Save Tameside Greenbelt, has accused Tameside Council of riding roughshod over residents over the proposed Godley Green development.
“Why haven’t they listened to the communities so far and why would they listen now?” she explained.
Claire claimed there is widespread opposition to what would be the largest new development in the North West.
“The last time we advertised it, we have 1,000 comments and 90 per cent were against Godley Green, but we weren’t listened to,” she said.
Claire, who lives near where the Sidebottom Fold, Stalybridge, development was once proposed, added she had been surprised how may residents are unaware what is happening on their doorstep.
She said Save Tameside Greenbelt, which has held two previous protest marches about proposed developments in the borough, is about raising awareness.
Claire added the tracks dissecting Godley Green, an oasis of undeveloped land between Hyde and Hattersley, are well used by walkers, bikers and horse riders and considered a safe place for children to play. It is also a haven for wildlife.
“It is important to keep greenbelt for the mental and physical wellbeing of people which will suffer when you get rid of areas like this,” she continued.
Claire, who described the development as a “council tax cash cow” for the local authority in these challenging financial times, believes they ought to be pursuing and exhausting the brownfield approach before developing greenbelt.
She also claimed there is not the infrastructure in place to sustain such a large development.
Claire explained: “Tameside can glory it all they want. It looks perfect on their website, but they are covering their eyes to the reality.
“The reality is the traffic is bad already – you are talking about 2,400 homes and most will be at least two car households.
“They also say it is perfect with two railway stations nearby but, before lockdown, trains were packed.
“Schools in the area are already full so people will have to go further by car to find one that isn’t. Hyde is also struggling for doctors before any extra demand.
“There are lots of reasons not to build on this land, but Tameside Council is not listening to the people.
“We are not against building, but it has to be in the right place, and this is not the right place. Greenbelt was brought in for a reason.”
• Save Tameside Greenbelt was formed in 2016 in response to the Greater Manchester Spatial Framework being published.
I agree whole heartedly with Claire. I live near this proposed site and have not had any information regarding it through my door. I have only heard about it via social media. We have a lot of local residents who may not be on social media and I would imagine their voices are not being captured. We regularly walk the dogs, cycle and horse ride in this area – keeping road work to a minimum and accessing bridleways. I am very concerned re the timescale and size of this proposal and the effect it will have on the health and safety of local residents.
Typical TMBC riding roughshod over the residents of the Borough, it’s time for change and the best way to make this happen is to vote in the May local elections and reduce the grip the labour party he had for over 40 years.
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Imagine if all the greenbelt protection group members in Manchester and beyond voices a common statement
I totally agree with opposing this development. We are being told to exercise in the local countryside for our health and wellbeing yet they are proposing to build houses on it with no thought to road usage schools etc. We all need the chance to object through information being put through our front doors so no-one is excluded
This is outrageous I was in one of the
Zoom meeting last week and it’s clear that
TMBC are not consulting local residents and are
Using COVID restrictions to stop the locals having meetings to discuss this development
Gee Cross has an elderly demographic and no attempt has been made to inform these residents
It’s all being pushed through before the local
Elections too
This appears to be another case of TMBC trying to get things through on the quiet and using the covid constraints to get this planning through whilst people cannot be consulted. The whole consultation should be delayed for at least 12 months until iproper public consultation can take place. The definition of green belt is to separate towns and stop urban sprawl. This proposed development does the exact opposite and joins gee cross to godley to hattersley. There are plenty of brown belt areas not being used, one of which is next to Tesco only half a mile away. The increased traffic movements 8 to 10 thousand a day will block up all the roads in the area and make the queues at the end of the m67 even worse. There are already no places on the trains it will also totally ruin the view from werneth low. Everybody in tameside should fight this .
I totally oppose this development for so many reasons we need to keep our green spaces and if this pandemic hasn’t highlighted that I don’t know what will but TMBC don’t care what the residents want it’s just to line the pockets of the local council this must not be allowed to go ahead .
It’s the same in Mossley there building everywhere they can but haven’t thought about parking, schools and doctors. The commute for people using the trains is rubbish they are either cancelled or too full.
Don’t fall for the need for housing, this is an aspirational housing development at the end of a clogged motorway, on an overcrowded train service, in a deprived area with few local employment opportunities. It will rip up green space depriving a lot of wildlife of its home. It will add to traffic and other services. It may also increase water run off into Godley Brook and cause flooding down steam.
Outrageous disregard for greenbelt . Need to get national paper on board
Looks like “Shameside Council” are at loggerheads with the people that voted them in again. DO NOT vote for these councillors at the next election, get rid of them once and for all.
Please keep up the good work. If you need me im here