Friends of Heritage Green continue campaign to oppose sale of playing field in Norden

Campaign to save the Heritage Green open space on Caldershaw Road for future generations

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A group of local residents, who are passionate about stopping the sale of a playing field in Norden, are continuing their campaign to ensure that the council doesn’t go ahead with the sale.

The Friends of Heritage Green was set up in February after a local resident found out that the council were looking to sell the land.

Mark Hope from the group said: “Last November, Rochdale Council approved the sale of eight plots of land and to be honest, I just think they are getting down to what’s left. Most of the sites are brown field sites, but two are green field sites and one of those is our site.”

Since forming the group, 170 members have been recruited to push the campaign forward.

Mark added: “It is going really well and it is just about letting people know. It is hard work but we won’t be stopped.”

The playing field that Rochdale Council want to sell is at the junction of Cut Lane and Caldershaw Road and is regularly used by children in the area.

“It is important to the community because it is a good place for the children. The children can play their safely and on a nice day, there are often two or three groups of children using that field. It is a good place for a kick about or a game of cricket. There isn’t anything else close to suit the children,” said Mark.

The group has also applied for village green status for the land. This means that the group has to supply proof that the land has been used by local people for lawful sports and pastimes ‘as of right’ (i.e. without permission, force or secrecy) for at least 20 years.

Mark added: “If we get village green status then that would be great but if we don’t, it is about stopping the sale of this land. If the sale is stopped, we are likely to move forward and do a bit more to make the land better but for now, it is about stopping the sale.”

At a meeting of the Rochdale Township Committee in March, councillors agreed to postpone the sale of the land until a site visit had been undertaken.

In a report to councillors at that meeting, the committee were asked to approve the release and disposal of the surplus land at Cut Lane/Caldershaw Road.

http://www.rochdaleonline.co.uk/news-features/2/news-headlines/94579/people-power-postpones-sale-of-land

It is expected that a decision on the land will be made at the next meeting of the Rochdale Township committee on Wednesday 22 July.

Anyone interested in supporting the Friends of Heritage Green’s campaign can contact Mark Hope via:

markhope680@btinternet.com

07812 195873