Wild play area gets go-ahead
ROSSENDALE council has granted planning permission to its own application for a controversial wild play area.
The Spodden Valley site is a large piece of councilowned land to the west of Market Street, Whitworth, immediately to the north of Healey Dell.
A former sewage works and landfill site, it is used for recreation and consists of meadows, woodlands and water features interspersed amongst a network of formal and informal pathways.
Thirty-one letters of objection had been received, raising concerns including: harm to wildlife/ ecology, inappropriate development, invasive species risk, neighbour amenity, access issues, litter and pedestrian safety.
Three letters of support had stressed the health benefits and positive aspects outweighing the negative, and there were no objections from statutory consultees.
The planning committee unanimously approved the project subject to conditions, at last week’s development control meeting.
Community Interest Company Proffitts have been working alongside Rossendale council and Whitworth Town Council on the proposals.
Rachael Gildert, of Proffitts, said: “Our proposals aim to upgrade an earlier scheme from almost 20 years ago and improve footpaths and signage to and around the site, making links with the Valley of Stone Greenway and to rights of way outside the site to encourage exploration.
“We know that the site was well used during lockdown and became a place of respite and exercise for a lot of local residents. Small areas for natural play will be positioned along the paths creating stopping points and places for children, with the aim of supporting families to discover the site together.”
Whitworth Coun Alan Neal said the play area “will enable all of our wider communities across Whitworth to gain a great deal of community benefits of health and wellbeing.”
He said he “fully” understood some people’s personal concerns, however they were outweighed by the wider community health and wellbeing.
He also thanked Proffitt’s and Rossendale council officers and planning committee members for their time and effort on the proposals.