3 local action groups (Save the Green Belt, The Civic Trust, Flood  Resilience ) have joined forces to defend our precious Green Belt and Green Spaces from becoming residential housing designated  in the Greater Manchester Spacial Framework - GMSF. Now called Places For Everyone. This is a 20 year plan for 9 boroughs of Greater Manchester since the original GMSF failed.
Although the GMCA (Greater Manchester Combined Authority) state that the plan focuses on Brownfield sites and Town Centre Redevelopment, all new builds proposed for our area,  circa 700 houses and a primary school will be built on Green Belt and Protected Green Spaces, within the environs of  Hollingworth Lake Country Park, the Jewel In Rochdale’s Crown.
 
Time To Take Action
 
On 28th July 2021 Rochdale Council will be voting on the acceptance of Places For Everyone. This is our chance to make our strength of feeling known.                                          Let’s make sure our voices are heard.
 
What does Places For Everyone mean for us.  2/3 main sites.
 
Hollingworth Lake/ Hollingworth Rd - 300 Houses and a Primary School. This is Green Belt. Farmland behind lake bank to the top of the hill, across to Hollingworth Road, and the car park on Hollingworth Road ( this will necessitate a new car park built at the visitors centre on more green belt land)
Land Off Smithy Bridge Rd - 210 Houses This is protected open land and is one of the few remaining green spaces left to the residents of this part of Smithy Bridge.
Former AKZO Nobel Site -  174 Houses. Although not strictly speaking part of the GMSF we understand that this development will go hand in hand with the Hollingworth Rd site it adjoins.
TOTAL: 684 Houses plus School.

We understand that the housing stock will consist of large executive homes, with few affordable houses. This won’t answer the needs of the local community, but rather turn our villages into a commuter town.   

What are the Risks
 
Traffic
Imagine a further 1300 cars on our congested roads, plus drop offs and pick ups from a new school. There are no plans to improve our roads. We have above average emergency response times.
 
Services
3000 more people. Our Doctors, Dentists, and Hospitals are full. There is nothing in the plan to address this.  Public transport is full, yet our rail links and buses are highlighted to promote this scheme.
 
Flooding
Our countryside acts like a sponge to absorb surface water. Rooflines, flagstones and Tarmac do not. We fear the floods that inundated  Littleborough will become common. The new builds would be deluged if the reservoir breached the dam.
 
Environment
Our canal and the lake are designated SBI’s – Sites of Biological Importance. We are home to diverse natural environments, and wildlife.The Roe Deer come down to the lake from the hills behind the lake. The benefits of our green spaces for our health and wellbeing are well documented. Let’s save them for our  residents,  visitors and future generations to enjoy.
 
 
Urban Sprawl
Ours are not the only developments for Rochdale in the GMSF. There’s a very real danger of Milnrow, Smithy Bridge and Littleborough becoming joined together into a large conglomeration, destroying the character of our lovely Pennine villages. Hollingworth Lake Country Park is a tourist destination which the council are keen to promote and further development. This seems at odds with the GMSF plans.
 
How Can You Help?
 
Please sign this petition, it will only take a few minutes.
You can also write to your councillor:                                                     Littleborough Lakeside  :

Janet Emsley   Janet.emsley@rochdale.gov.uk

John Hartley   John.hartley@rochdale.gov.uk  

Tom Besford   Tom.besford@rochdale.gov.uk                                                      

Wardle and West Littleborough :

Ashley Dearnley  Ashley.dearnley@rochdale.gov.uk

Rina Paolucci      Rina.paolucci@rochdale.gov.uk

John Taylor          John.taylor@rochdale.gov.uk

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