Protesters step up green belt battle

HUNDREDS of people marched through Bamford to protest against plans to build 750 houses on greenbelt land.

The event last Saturday was organised by Bamford Greenbelt Group as a show of strength against the scheme which has earmarked the land for housing under a 20 year development masterplan.

The site involved stretches from the right hand side of Jowkin Lane across to Hollin Lane and then carries on behind Bamford Mews and along the rear of the properties on Norford Way.

Rochdale Tennis Club, on Hollin Lane, could be also be forced to relocate as part of the plans and council-owned playing fields used by Bridge Junior Football Club are also under threat.

Tim O’Brien, a committee member of the Bamford Greenbelt Group, said: “There must have been about 600 or 700 people there in total. We met up at Bamford Green and walked around the threatened area before heading to Bamford Chapel.

“The mood was very positive and very determined – there were plenty of people there with dogs as there are a lot who go dog walking up there.

“The fact we had so many people is a good indication of how determined people feel to oppose this.”

The plan, dubbed the Greater Manchester Spatial Framework, earmarks sites across the region for thousands of new homes and businesses to cope with the area’s demand in the future.

Council chiefs previously said they felt the Bamford site could provide good-quality homes which would be built ‘to an exceptional standard, targeting the top end of the housing market.’

They also said the development would ‘aim to attract and keep highly skilled professionals within the north of Greater Manchester.’

But residents are concerned the scale of the development is too large.

Bamford councillor Jane Howard previously said residents are also concerned about the services which would be needed to support 750 new homes, such as doctors, schools, roads.

In and around Rochdale the GMSF could see 6,750 new homes built, on sites near Hollingworth Lake, Norden and Castleton, among others, plus major expansions of Kingsway, Stakehill, Heywood and Pilsworth business parks. The public consultation closes on Monday, January 16, at noon. Email GMSF@agma.gov.uk, or write to Greater Manchester Integrated Support Team, PO Box 532, Town Hall, Manchester M60 2LA.

●●Pictures by Sean Hansford