Heritage Green anniversary

Number 1 Shearing Avenue to the right, this “Lane” was turned in to what looks like a river by the floods

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The Friends of Heritage Green will celebrate its first anniversary on 28 February, fighting for over a year to persuade Rochdale Borough Council not to sell Heritage Green to developers.

The group is also continuing to attempt to register the field at Caldershaw Road/Cut Lane (Heritage Green) as a Village Green.

A spokesperson for the Friends said: "If any proof was needed of both the unsuitability of the field for development and its value as a community asset, the recent extreme flooding and the snow storm told the Council all they need to know.

"Back in the early 1990s, Cut Lane was extended with 22 houses being built making up a new leg of the Lane on both sides of what is now the gravel 'cut through' that links Shearing Avenue (near the bridge that straddles the cut) on to Fisherfield. This path is now well-used as a short cut and extensively by dog walkers.

"As can be seen in the photograph that shows Number 1 Shearing Avenue to the right, this 'lane' was turned in to what looks like a river by the floods.

"It has proven to be the lesser of two evils that 20 of these houses were knocked down in the late 1990s, due to subsidence and some flooding, as if there had still been residents there on Boxing Day, obviously their houses would have been under water and they would have had a very miserable Christmas.

"The field itself, which is almost opposite across Shearing Avenue, fared slightly better but was covered in water and the cut swelled significantly and burst its banks spilling over on to the field. It can be seen from the pictures that it would be an act of sheer madness to build on this land and have unsuspecting people buy houses and plan their future lives on this new mini estate. Surely a lesson must have been learnt from the previous catastrophic building episode and the misery endured by the residents from the demolished Cut Lane extension?

"The snow was a different matter and we saw young toddlers sledging down the gentle slopes, mass snow ball fights and family teams building giant snowmen with imaginative designs including one with sticks for arms and sporting a pair of warm winter gloves. Much fun was had by all and the merits of this small field to youngsters and their parents was perfectly demonstrated by this winter scene.

"The current position at the time of writing, as regards the future of Heritage Green, is that any decision as to its fate is still on hold pending the outcome of the application by the Friends of Heritage Green (submitted on 12 October 2015) to register the field as a Village Green. If the field is registered as a Village Green, this will prevent the proposed sale of the land and provide long term protection of Heritage Green for use for recreation and leisure purposes.

"It is anticipated that Rochdale Council will ask another Council to decide whether Heritage Green should be registered as a Village Green as Rochdale Council is uncomfortable about deciding upon the future of its own field. Hopefully things will start moving when the other Council becomes involved which is expected to be the middle of February.

"The Friends of Heritage Green currently numbers in excess of 260 local residents and has grown dramatically as word has spread throughout the local community of the possibility of losing a much cherished recreational space. The group is itching to get past the wrangling and campaigning stage and the legal work involved with the Village Green application and wants to move on to more fun activities to enhance the environment of the field and people’s enjoyment of this valued green space.

"The campaign is far from over and participation and support from anyone in any way would be welcomed and greatly appreciated. If you are interested in joining the Friends of Heritage Green (for free) and receiving information relating to the campaign, all you have to do is provide your name and contact details."

markhope680@btinternet.com

07812 195 873

The Friends of Heritage Green’s Annual General Meeting will be held on Thursday 25 February at 7 p.m. at St. Vincent de Paul’s Hall. Anyone interested in supporting the cause, learning more about what has been going on throughout the year and what is planned for the future is said to be welcome. Elections of new committee members will also be held at this time.