Turn Moss protesters ‘are ignored’
PROTESTERS fighting Gary Neville’s plans to turn green belt land at Turn Moss into football training pitches claim they are being ‘ignored’ by council bosses, who they say haven’t answered their questions a month after publicly promising to do so.
The United legend and the town hall want to develop some of the land, in Stretford, for Salford City FC and the planned University Academy (UA) 92.
The friends group opposing the proposals plan to request a judicial review should the application be approved. The town hall’s Lib Dem group has also slated the plans.
More than 100 campaigners aired their concerns at a heated public meeting at Manchester United’s Old Trafford ground last month. Protesters say the meeting was ‘too short,’ lasting only an hour,’ and many people did not get a chance to grill Neville and the council.
Council chief executive Theresa Grant vowed any unasked ones would be answered via email.
Ann-Marie Bolan, 39, from Chorlton, which borders the site, said: “I went to the meeting as a neutral, expecting to get answers to my concerns and walk away not opposed to the plans.
“But it was only an hour long, so we didn’t get chance to ask and the tone from the beginning was that we were being put in our place and like there was a script. I’d politely had my hand in the air for some time, and so Theresa Grant told me to email or tweet my question and promised that it would be answered. My tweets and emails have been completely ignored.”
The planning application also includes a new cafe, playground, changing rooms, exercise trail and 4G pitch - which the council and Neville say will benefit the community. The former Reds defender also argues government austerity means the private sector is needed to improve sports facilities.
Opponents say it will have little benefit for residents, cause loss of green belt and disturb wildlife. They also suggested that professional football club Salford should use facilities in their own borough.
Some, including Ann-Marie, have concerns over the drainage as the part of Turn Moss in question is a flood plain for the River Mersey.
They fear what consequences this may have and say it has not been properly investigated.
Trafford council has now extended the consultation period on the plan, with the deadline for representations moved from March 18 to April 18.
A spokeswoman said: “The Council are not aware of any questions that have been submitted by email on Turn Moss that haven’t been responded to.
“Answering a question sometimes involves directing the individual to the relevant information within the planning application submission, and this is how we responded to the person quoted in your article.
“It’s down to members of the public to view this information for themselves when it’s publicly available.
“We have also created a set of FAQs on Turn Moss covering the most regular questions as well as Fact sheets which are on the relevant page of our website.
“I would personally like to point out that the public meeting referred to was extended to an hour and 45 minutes to allow for as many questions as possible to be answered.”
It is expected the application will be ruled on at a planning meeting on May 17. If granted, the Friends of Turn Moss plan to request a judicial review.