Advertisement
A victory for common sense
Posted By: Ibrar Khan
Date Posted: 27/10/2009
As I write news is breaking that Link4Life has withdrawn its controversial planning application for a golf driving range in Springfield Park. This is great news for campaigners and a victory for common sense. The Friends of Springfield Park group must be congratulated in their determination to challenge these plans and make the council listen to local people’s concerns. I cannot understand, though, why it has taken so long for our council to realise the scale of opposition to these proposals.
Nearly 18-months ago, Rochdale’s Labour Parliamentary Candidate, Simon Danczuk, invited the then Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, Andy Burnham MP, to meet with local campaigners who want to save Springfield Park. In comments that were reported widely at the time, the Minister said: “There is something unwholesome and unsavoury about plans to take a piece of land that the public use for sport and recreation and rope it off purely for commercial reasons. I feel it would be hard to get support from Sport England for this venture to go ahead.”
At the time these comments were ignored by our Council but Andy Burnham was proved right. Why then did our Liberal Democrat ruling group persist in ignoring the likes of the Friends of Springfield Park, Government Ministers, Sport England, local politicians and thousands of park users and residents who have signed petitions and made formal objections to recklessly carry on with this undemocratic folly? That this Council tried for too long to carry on riding roughshod over local people’s wishes and ignoring the needs of local communities is a shocking affront to democracy.
I understand the Friends of Springfield Park group are now seeking assurance that the application will not be resubmitted in the near future and that the existing objections would still stand if that did happen. I congratulate them on their determination and dedication in fighting to keep much-needed local facilities. This is a great example of people power winning the day.
More Entries By Ibrar Khan
- Paul Rowen is scaremongering Date posted: 07/04/2010
- How much money has our council wasted? Date posted: 03/11/2009
- Lib Dems finally listening Date posted: 19/08/2009
- Shame on our Council Date posted: 08/06/2009
- Paul Rowen's expenses Date posted: 02/06/2009
- Put an end to this propaganda Date posted: 06/05/2009
- Lib Dems punish pensioners again Date posted: 14/04/2009
- Councillor Flynn is wrong Date posted: 08/04/2009
- Dale Mulgrew's record is far from straight Date posted: 14/02/2009
- Where’s our arts centre gone? Date posted: 12/02/2009
- An audience with Government Date posted: 19/01/2009
- Loss of life and loss of respect Date posted: 08/01/2009
- Government help for pensioners and mothers Date posted: 06/01/2009
- Peace prospects look bleak Date posted: 28/12/2008
- Wishing you all a merry Christmas Date posted: 23/12/2008
- Another night of shame for the Lib Dems Date posted: 16/12/2008
- Sh-h-h-h-h-h! Don't mention local politics Date posted: 14/12/2008
- The Lib Dems show their true colours Date posted: 11/12/2008
- Lies, damned lies and Paul Rowen Date posted: 03/12/2008
- Rochdale is badly prepared for a recession under the Lib Dems Date posted: 17/11/2008
- Barack Obama Date posted: 05/11/2008
- RE: Question to cabinet member for Community Cohesion and Housing Date posted: 24/08/2007
- Central Issues Date posted: 25/04/2007
