‘Serious concerns’ over plans for 4,000 homes in village
MANY of your readers will have heard of the Greater Manchester Spatial Framework (GMSF) which is a land allocation plan for Greater Manchester.
As Conservative councillors for Marple South, we have serious concerns over the proposed allocation of 4,000 dwellings in High Lane.
If approved, this will have a detrimental effect on the quality of life of all who value our green belt and open spaces.
Since the GMSF consultation commenced, we have worked with local residents to raise awareness and ensure that all of their voices are heard.
This included leaflets, speaking to residents on the doorstep and a strong social media campaign.
It was also a pleasure to work with Mike Jones and the Save Stockport Green Belt Committee who organised the march from High Lane to Stockport town hall, which attracted hundreds of local residents.
As local councillors, we will continue to fight in the best interest of our community as the consultation goes into its second stage. Councillors Tom Dowse and Kenny Blair, Conservative Members for Marple South
MEMORIES OF COUNTY GLORY
GARETH Evan’s comprehensive account of Stockport County’s history, starting as a church football club, is a reminder of just how many football clubs have originated through church influence.
During Stockport County’s recent successful 1990s period the names of Danny Bergara, manager, and Brendan Ellwood, chairman have won a prominent place in the club’s illustrious history.
And in 1991/2 it was a privilege for me to welcome the chairman, manager and players to a town hall reception recognising an excellent season in the league and in the Autoglass Cup.
Bishop Frank Sargeant joined me on a memorable visit to Wembley along with many fans for the Autoglass final against Stoke City when the players added further prestige to Stockport.
It was also a delightful opportunity to meet the legendary, Blackpool and Stoke footballing genius, Sir Stanley Mathews. Occasions to be cherished. Tom Jackson (former Mayor of Stockport) High Lane
FLOODING IS ALSO AN ISSUE
ONE point not covered in Deborah Hind’s excellent letter in the Stockport Express (January 18) regarding road building was flooding.
The council is proposing to extend the Airport Link Road to the M60 at Bredbury, just inches from these already flooding houses at Bean Leach, Offerton.
In addition, they built the A6 MARR through an Environment Agencyrecognised flood plain at Brookside Garden Centre car park.
The garden centre flooded almost immediately.
I have never known flooding there before, so I assume the road building caused it.
The councillors and senior council officers at Stockport have a legal obligation to abide by laws regarding building in flood plains.
Should they choose to ignore them, they might find themselves personally financially liable for flooding damage caused to innocent homeowners/ businesses caused by their road building rush for votes.
I do hope so, I really do. Sheila Oliver Romiley
HOMES CAN’T JUST BE BUILT
THE UK’s population has increased by 75 per cent in the last 100 years and with growth forecast to continue the idea that towns and villages should be constrained within historic boundaries is selling the next generation short.
We desperately need more new houses and building on green belt land has to be part of the solution.
That said, the idea that 4,000 houses can be just dropped into High Lane without major infrastructure improvements is ridiculous. Building should be permitted only after construction of both the Disley/High Lane bypass and the missing link road from ’Simpson’s corner’ to the M60 at Portwood. In addition, for every house built on green belt land developers should be obliged to build a new house on brownfield land in the same area. Neil Bailey Address supplied
LABOUR MUST FIGHT FOR NHS
ANEURIN Bevan, the founder of the National Health Service, said ‘the
NHS will last as long as there are folk left with faith to fight for it’.
Where are our Labour representatives in Stockport now? Not fighting for the NHS.
At the moment the plan they have adopted would appear to be the silent, uncritical implementation of the Tory government cuts to both the health service and local government social care.
£16 million from Greater Manchester Health and Social care fund does not begin to make up the £60m cuts to the NHS budget in Stepping Hill this year. Marjorie Owen Bramhall
BYPASS IS STILL A BAD IDEA
STOCKPORT council is sensibly retreating from plans for huge housing estates in the countryside.
What a shame that it is still threatening the green belt with the A6-M60 bypass.
Stage one of the official feasibility study into the bypass has just been released. It is not an objective report.
Its mission is to put a road through the Lower Goyt and Poise Brook Valleys. The study claims environmental impacts will be mitigated, including in the Goyt Valley.
At the same time it has a new suggestion – a ‘high-level bridge’ across the valley, like a dualcarriageway on a viaduct.
How can such an appallingly noisy, intrusive structure be mitigated? Surely it shows that no one should believe in any mitigations that may be promised along the route?
From Torkington to Bredbury, people and nature will be badly affected by the bypass. The route is all across green belt or protected green space. It needs to be defended like the rest of Stockport’s greenbelt. Graham Trickey Marple Bridge