Public meeting objecting GMSF proposals fills Newhey Lodge

Milnrow and Newhey 'Save our Greenbelt' campaigners

There was barely enough space to move at Newhey Lodge during the public meeting on Friday (13 January) to discuss the opposition to the Greater Manchester Spatial Framework plans to build in Milnrow and Newhey.

Approximately 140 people turned out to attend the meeting, which was held on behalf of the Save Our Villages Milnrow and Newhey group.

Councillor Andy Kelly said: “In hindsight, we should have picked a bigger room as it was standing room only, but I’d like to thank Newhey Lodge for letting us use the room.

“Over 800 physical extra letters objecting the proposals were delivered as a direct result of this meeting. People came to us and ask us for help.

“Everyone was organised and it was a tremendous piece of community action. We’d gone out the previous weekend and delivered letters to every house in Newhey and for so many to turn up with five days’ notice was nothing short of a miracle.

“There are genuine concerns. It’s not just ‘I want these green fields’, there are concerns for congestion, flooding, air pollution, pinch points, capacity in schools, transport to Oldham and Littleborough.”

Chairwoman of the meeting Ellen Kay said: “I am so proud to be part of our wonderful community and our villages who are working together to ‘save our villages’. I personally want to thank you.

“Our meeting at Newhey Lodge showed how much we care about our villages and we have had an overwhelming response with lots of people volunteering their help.

“We want our voices to be heard alongside these other groups. We are being listened to, so please don't think you can't make a difference, together we can.

“If you live in Newhey, this will affect you directly with additional housing and industrial units literally on your doorstep- along with a significant loss of green space which will forever change the look of this Pennine village.

“Whilst we are part of Rochdale, we want to retain our own identity as a village. That's the reason why people choose to move here and the reason we stay. If this greenbelt development goes ahead we will just be another part of urban sprawl, joining the towns of Rochdale and Oldham.

“What will affect us all is the extra traffic on the roads (both domestic and commercial). We all know about the traffic jams which occur on a daily basis in both villages: particular pinch points being Jublilee Bends, Huddersfield Road junction, Milnrow Road Junction, Elizabethan Way, Kiln Lane, Wildhouse Lane- and don't even bother trying to get through the villages when there's an accident on the M62. All this is only going to get worse if this plan were to go ahead.

“The extra traffic will also increase the noise pollution and air quality, which is already pretty bad. We have seen more frequent flooding over recent years; the risk of this worsening is very real if this building goes ahead.

“Not only do we suffer from the River Beal flooding, but the run-off water from Crompton Hill and Kiln Lane adds to the water levels which the drains can't cope with. There would be an additional burden on our already-full schools, stretched GP surgeries, emergency services and hospitals.”

Nicola Powis said: “The meeting on Friday was overwhelming and there was a great sense of community.”

Resident Julie Sandham said: “It was an amazing turnout by the people of Newhey and Milnrow protesting against the GMSF proposals. The community is working together.”

Over 800 objection letters, not counting email concerns or online comments, were delivered to Manchester Town Hall as a result of the meeting.