RESIDENTS, whose historic Droylsden community is used as a backdrop for iconic television series, are involved in a major drama of their own.
It has led the tight knit Moravian Settlement in Fairfield Square passing a unanimous vote of no confidence in church elders for selling off three Grade II listed houses and the community’s precious green ‘lung.’
A packed public meeting expressed dismay at the decision taken by the Moravian Union’s Board of Trustees whose six members include Fairfield old boys, Reverends David Howarth and Michael Newman. A third, Reverend Peter Gubi, is minister at Dukinfield Moravian Church.
Two of the properties, including a six-bedroom house, have been made available for auction on July 27 with a combined starting price of £340,000 with the third marketed separately.
It is understood two houses have been empty for a total of approximately 18 years and a third vacant since 2018. All three require substantial renovation at an estimated cost of around £750,000.
Covenants will confirm they can’t be bought and turned into houses of multiple occupation.
Three acres of land, including the base for more than 60 years of the 413th Manchester (Fairfield Moravian) scout group, are also being made available on the open market.
The land borders Fairfield Road, the Ashton Canal, Broadway North and Northway with the majority registered by the Scouts as an Asset of Community Value (ACV) with Tameside Council in 2018.
Under-fire Moravian leaders are insistent a new base for the scouts, cubs and beavers will be found on the woodland area adjacent to Love Lane footpath.
Scout leaders are now considering whether to trigger a clause with the ACV to become potential bidders for part of the site which has changed little since the first settlers moved in 237 years ago.
The designated conservation area supports a thriving bat colony, other abundant wildlife and is also home to English bluebells, protected by legislation. Nearly 20 Tree Protection Orders are also in place.
Last year, the Board controversially gave the green light to dispose of another Moravian asset, Ockbrook School in Derbyshire, founded in 1799.
Only five weeks’ notice of closure was given leaving a parents’ group insufficient time to consider raising funds to buy the school.
Square residents, who in the past successfully raised hundreds of thousands of pounds to save and renovate the settlement’s Moravian College, have also complained about poor communication from Church House, the Moravian’s London headquarters in Muswell Hill.
Hundreds of people have signed a petition objecting to the sell-off and posters opposing the disposal have gone up round the Square previously used as location for Peaky Blinders, Sherlock Holmes and a BBC day time drama, Brinkburn Street.
In 2014, scenes for a Manchester United kit promotion were also shot in the Square often described as a ‘hidden gem.’
Scout leader Harry Fincham told the meetings: “Shouldn’t we be developing the land for the wider community in terms of keeping it green for the likes of Men in Sheds, Forest Schools rather than settling for 70 percent housing and 30 percent bits of greenery?
“They are pushing this through and disregarding everything that is being said. There is no guarantee we can buy it but we have got to be given the opportunity to put a price forward.”
The Scouts say the land welcomes children and local community groups from across Greater Manchester and is also used as a sports day venue for schools which no longer have their own grounds.
Janet Warr, who chaired the meeting said: “As far as I am concerned it is no building in that area. We need it as a break.”
An audience member added: “Someone should be accountable for what is happening. If this was a private business, they would be sacked.”
Another said: “Sometimes you have to rattle cages; open Pandora’s Box and find out what is going on. Why are they selling your properties and what are they going to do with the money?
Former minister Richard Ingham said a proposal not to sell Union assets before talking to residents, would be discussed at the Moravian Synod currently taking place in Derbyshire.
“I will ask them to be brave and to come to Fairfield and explain to a meeting why they are having to do this,” he said. “I do not see why they cannot do that.
“If there is a good reason behind it there is a good reason why they can explain it.”
A statement provided for the Correspondent said: “The trustees of Moravian Union have taken the difficult decision to sell three empty houses in the Fairfield settlement.
“For historical reasons, these properties require significant renovations that can only be achieved by external investment following a sale.
“Houses have been sold for similar reasons in the past at our other settlements. Local tenants have been informed and assured their tenancies will continue as normal.
“As part of a review of land owned by Moravian Union, a plot of land to the east of the settlement is to be sold. Part of this land contains several empty garages and is subject to regular fly tipping and other misuse.
“The conditions of the sale will mean a continued home for the Scout Group and the conserving of the Love Lane footpath and adjacent woodland.
“The income from the property owned by the Moravian Union, which also includes settlements in Derbyshire, West Yorkshire and County Antrim supports the work of the Moravian Church in Britain and Ireland including the congregations at Fairfield, Dukinfield and Royton.
Totally object to all what the Moravian Union are proposing you all should be ashamed of the way you have mismanaged the running of the settlement for years , this is one of the reasons why I moved from my beloved home there thirteen years ago property was never maintained in a responsible way then , it’s an abomination to say the least to all the residents & members of the church .
Access to the land on lovers lane may include coming up Broadway North, this will not be happening, residents here would block any attempt to access this area, we are close nit and would do what it requires to put a stop to there little gallop,
Apart from the fact of taking away yet more green belt. Has anyone actually considered the infrastructure that we have. It barley copes with what we already have in terms of houses. We are already struggling with doctors surgeries, dentist, schools and the proposed access is recipe for disaster the rate that some drivers come over “Benson’s bridge” would see more accidents and possibly deaths. It would also bring more vehicles onto the road. There is already going to be multiple additional vehicles using the road due to the new housing estate being built on the site of the old Robertsons jam factory. All of these things need to be taken into consideration, this is something that wouldn’t affect the church union as they don’t live in the area. It’s seems to be well we can sell it to increase the bank account and it doesn’t matter about the people who would be involved in all the upevil. The proposed sites are a part of Moravian & local history.
There is already a problem with traffic around the Moravian settlement during school drop off and collection. Creating more residential homes on the square and Love lane would only exacerbate this problem.
You need to move on. You want to live there but no one else can its 2024 get a grip