Green protesters step out
Families join protest walk around lake
ARESIDENTS group organised a family ‘green’ walk to protest at plans to build on the area’s green belt.
The Littleborough and Smithy Bridge Save The Greenbelt Committee organised a family-friendly ‘green’ walk around Hollingworth Lake, to raise awareness of the plans to build on nearby green belt land.
On Sunday, September 5, the group dressed in green during the walk around the lake, which also raised funds for planning lawyers Leith.
Sites the group are protesting about are plans for 300 houses and a primary school on farmland behind the lake, 210 houses on land off Smithy Bridge Road, and proposals for 174 houses on the former AKZO Nobel site.
A spokesperson for the committee said: “The Smithy Bridge and Littleborough Save The Greenbelt Committee organised this walk to help raise awareness of the plans to build on precious green belt lands that our residents and visitors benefit from, and the wildlife that inhabit it.
“As the deadline looms ever near – October 3 – to have a say against the Places for Everyone scheme, we wanted to ensure people knew they had a chance to voice any issues against the soundness of the plans, regarding the lack of infrastructure to support the plans, pollution and traffic issues, and a possible increased risk of flooding.”
Places for Everyone is a controversial long-term plan for new jobs, homes, and sustainable growth created by the Greater Manchester Combined Authority. Last month, Rochdale council voted to progress the plan, with council bosses insisting that ditching the successor to the Greater Manchester Spatial Framework would mean the loss of the huge Northern Gateway employment site near the M62, while still leaving green belt in Bamford and Littleborough vulnerable to development.
The family walk was the third event the group had organised at Hollingworth Lake and they have two more events planned to help raise more funds.
These are a coffee afternoon on Saturday, September 18 and a quiz night on Saturday, November 13.
The spokesperson added: “The group is not against building houses for those who need them.
“We want houses built ideally on brownfield sites, in places where the infrastructure will support such builds, with the increased population more residential areas bring, including cars on the road.
“Areas such as those proposed do not, and take green spaces we so desperately need – surely looking to a greener world a better solution must be found.”