Mossley is our home. It is where our children are growing up and where we want future generations to enjoy the same beautiful green spaces that make our town special. Puddle Clay Pits at Hey Farm is far more than an empty field—it is a thriving habitat for bats, protected birds, foxes, roe deer, owls, amphibians, pollinators, and many other species. We are deeply concerned that this development would replace this precious landscape with 225 new homes, well beyond our capacity, destroying our town for good. Mossley has experienced population growth over 12% in the past few years.

It will destroy the environment around our only secondary school housing 900 pupils forever and make their immediate environment a building site for around 6 years with all the noise and pollution that that entails. It will add around 1000 extra car trips to two access points on Huddersfield Road within a hundred metres of the Mossley Hollins School entrance where over a thousand staff and students access ever week day.

 It is time that NO MEANT NO.

We call upon local councils and decision-makers to reconsider the plans that threaten to decimate such vital habitats in Mossley. Numerous studies have shown that green spaces are essential for the ecological health of our region, contributing significantly to biodiversity and environmental stability. In the UK, habitats like Hey Farm's Puddle Clay Pits are dwindling due to relentless urbanisation, and once lost, such ecosystems are nearly impossible to rebuild.

The developer's own environmental survey has shown that this development will have an irreversible impact one of Mossley few remaining sites of biological interest . The development contains the Site of Biological Importance of Puddle Clay Pits and the Site of Special Scientific Interest Impact Zones of the Huddersfield Narrow Canal and yet it has been signed off against the public's wishes after a decade of opposition. 

THIS CANNOT BE ALLOWED TO GO AHEAD.

The wildlife recorded on this site is not common or easily replaced. The developer's own surveys and residents' observations include protected bat species, nationally declining Red List birds such as curlew, lapwing and swift, Species of Principal Importance including hedgehog and brown hare, and valuable Lowland Fen Priority Habitat. Many of these species have suffered significant declines across the UK due to habitat loss. Protecting places like Puddle Clay Pits is therefore essential if these vulnerable species are to survive and recover for future generations.

Beyond their ecological value, these green spaces provide recreational areas for families, mental health benefits, and intrinsic community identity. The local population in Mossley has overwhelmingly expressed their opposition to this development. We are advocating not just for our current community, but for future generations who deserve the same quality of life that we have cherished.

Moreover, the proposed development would not only damage the local environment but also strain existing public services and infrastructure, leading to long-term economic and social repercussions. The loss of this green space contradicts the growing awareness and urgency of combating climate change and protecting our natural resources.

In light of these concerns, we urge the council to protect Mossley’s remaining green spaces and look for alternatives that do not involve the destruction of Puddle Clay Pits and its surrounding supporting ecosystem. Options like redeveloping brownfield sites or implementing community-driven urban planning solutions should be prioritized to prevent ecological harm.

JOIN US IN SAYING NO TO THIS DEVELOPMENT.

DEMAND ACTION from your councillor's, Tameside Planning, the RSPB, your MP,  the Greater Manchester Mayor and help us to secure a sustainable future for Mossley’s wildlife and our community.

SIGN THIS PETITION TODAY to voice your support for protecting our shared environment. Once it is gone, it will be gone forever.