Protest over Neville’s Turn Moss plan
CAMPAIGNERS wearing Gary Neville and Sean Anstee masks gathered outside Trafford town hall to protest plans for the former footballer’s new sports university.
The Save Turn Moss group picketed Trafford Town Hall to lobby the council about plans for the green belt land, in Stretford.
If the plans are given the green light, a chunk of Turn Moss, on the border of Chorlton, would be used for part of the Neville-backed UA92 university and Salford City FC.
Partially-funded by the council, it is hoped the project would bring flooded land on the playing fields back into use, while creating a new cafe, playground and changing rooms. A new 3G pitch would also be created for general community use. Campaigners agree that Turn Moss, in Stretford, needs investment but say the proposal will not benefit locals and will result in the loss of a beautiful green space.
They say the scheme would harm wildlife, disturbing people living in nearby retirement apartments and effectively hand over protected open space to the private sector.
Turn Moss is currently open to the public but is blighted by large flooded areas.
It is understood Trafford Council would pay to fix drainage before leasing the pitches back to Salford City over a 10-year period.
The planning application proposes three new turf training pitches to the east of Turn Moss Lane, which would be used as training facilities for Salford City and UA92’s team.
Trafford Council planners are due to discuss proposals in full in the coming weeks, but more around 200 campaigners lobbied the full council meeting on Wednesday night in a bid to get their message heard. Friends of Turn Moss spokesman Nigel Woodcock it was the biggest protest ever to take place outside Trafford Town Hall. He said: “How will they deal with flooding when the water table has risen? We don’t know how much they are planning to spend on that.”
Council leader Sean Anstee said: “I passionately believe this is going to be brilliant for the local area and young people in particular. We’re upgrading facilities to encourage more people to get involved in sport.”