Save Heaton Park

We have applied to have the area of Heaton Park adjacent to the Bowling Greens at the St Margarets Road entrance registered as a
village green.

This area of the park can be considered for village green status as long as it can be demonstrated by way of witness statements from
local residents that it has been used for general activities for 20 years or more. If the application is approved it will restrict what can
be done with this area of the park. We are urging as many people as possible who have used this area of the park for 20 years or more to write to Fraser Swift at the address below. It doesn?t have to be a long letter, you just have to say how many years you have used this area of the park. You can still write even if your visits have been infrequent.

Please state the type of recreational activity you have been involved in, for example, walking, horse riding, playing football, cricket,
rounders, playing with the kids, picnics, walking the dog. Please don?t forget to put your name and address on the letter and
sign it. Please send your letter to:

Fraser Swift
Principal Licensing Officer - Premises
Licensing Unit, Premises Team
Neighbourhood Services
PO Box 271, Manchester M18 8YU

Please write today it may be our last chance to preserve this area of the park.

Article from the recent edition of St Margaret’s Church News.

Like many of you, I love Heaton Park which was purchased by Manchester Council for the people of Manchester to enjoy, our own ‘lungs of Manchester’.   When plans are afoot to alter the park for better or worse I’m there, like many of you, interested to see what’s going on.  Initial plans to build a large sports complex in the park were available at a consultation event in the park, two years ago.  The plans looked amazing as a facility for sport and health/well being but they also raised concerns.  Debbie our Vicar was also there, we walked away together to discuss the proposal and how it might alter the nature of the park and impact the Church community.  I wondered if plans would be too invasive to the nature and character of this part of the park although the proposal for a sports complex is a fabulous community facility i.e. good plan, wrong place.  As a local Bury Councillor, a number of people began to contact me.  Some excited by the proposal and others very much against it.  I re-visited the plans and I decided to do what I could to help residents and park lovers to challenge the notion that public green park land can be leased/or sold to a private venture for commercial gain i.e. parks are not free building plots for cash strapped councils.

As local councillors, with your help, we began to hold public meetings.  Paul a local St Margaret’s Rd  resident, was asked to Chair our group, he’s not a member of a political group or taken part in a community action group before (and he’s been amazing).  Residents adjacent to Heaton Park and park users, Debbie our Vicar, Local Historians, TV Actress and Director Noreen,  professional and enthusiasts of Birds and Bats some of whom are active with Blackley Forrest Park  got together to involve our community in a campaign to fight against this proposed loss of green space (8 acres is a big green space to loose for football pitches).  We began to get advice, help and support from many different organisations such as CABE, Historic Garden Society, and local MP etc.  The Environmental Law Foundation agreed to take up our case and assist us too (they helped us with our previous effort a few years ago to save the park too).  This meant free legal advice from a specialist solicitor who gave her time for free to advise us and supplement advice from other organisations.  We challenged the initial planning application and Goals had to go away and re-consider issues such as noise pollution, levels of height of pitches and in regard to St Margaret’s Church and lighting especially for bats and wildlife.

Although we have lost our fight, our campaign delayed this building project by18 months which has enabled us and wildlife to continue to enjoy this quiet end of Heaton Park.  Our last attempt, over the past few months, was to try to prevent the legal disposal of park land process to the developer (another project delay).  We didn’t manage to stop the land being transferred to Goals and were all very disappointed.  When the development is being built we need to continue to scrutinise it to ensure activities such as the alcohol licence for the bar is only up 10pm as stated by Bury Council due to the proximity to housing and Church as well as ensure that the complex is built to agreed plans with Manchester City Council.  We also need to keep an eye on the company to ensure that they keep to their agreed operations and promises of free community sports use for our local schools and youth sports teams.

So many people have warmly and tirelessly worked together – the Save Heaton Park Group are a real life working coalition of people with political roles, people of prayer, specialists and park enthusiasts.  I am so very, very disappointed that we’ve lost even though we’ve ensured as best as we can that the development’s plans have been altered through our influence.   10,000 people objected to this proposal to Manchester City Council and our action group, with others, made sure that their voices were heard.   Goals haven’t been able to build exactly what they wanted and have been forced to compromise in an attempt to minimise the sports complex’s impact on local residents and Church.

Cllr Ann Garner

Not good news to report. Yesterday was the meeting of Manchester Council’s Neighbourhood and Communities Scrutiny Committee, which was considering the issue of leasing a part of Heaton Park to Goals Soccer Centre PLC for a commercial soccer centre.

Regrettably the decision made by Manchester’s Chief Executive has been upheld, and the lease to GOALS looks set to go ahead.

The decision to lease the land to GOALS was made by Manchester Council’s Chief Executive before Christmas. Councillors can “call-in” a decision, which means that it needs to be considered by a meeting of a “Scrutiny Committee” Liberal Democrat councillors in Manchester, concerned that the soccer centre was in the wrong place had ‘called the issue in’, and today was the consideration of that issue.

Here are the papers for the meeting.

The Committee Chair had kindly allowed Cllr Tim Pickstone, as a Councillor from an affected ward, to address the meeting, even though he’s a Bury Councillor. Many thanks to the local residents who made it on the day.

Our issue in Prestwich with the proposal has always been that this is a brilliant idea, in the wrong place. A development of this kind - c 18 artificant soccer pitches, plus tennis courts, a club house and over 80 car parking spaces - is an excellent facility, but not at the expense of open parkland and NOT in a quiet residential area already suffering from excessive traffic and parking from park users who arrive by car.

But this meeting wasn’t about the planning permssion (granted last year), but about the lease of the land. We had two main concerns about the proposal:

- we don’t believe that the case has adequately been made to make a to take away such a beautiful piece of parkland, and turn it into a commercial soccer centre. My view is that parkland is precious, its very rare that nay new pieces of parland are created, so we should guard what we have carefully.

Research undertaken by local residents showed that there are 73 other 5-a-side soccer pitches within 10 miles of Heaton Park of a standard at least as equal to that proposed by GOALS. There’s a list here. I am not convinced that there is any sort of lack of capacity for this sort of facility in this area.

We’re also not convinced that all other options for a site for this facility have been considered. As I pointed out this is actually a very poor site to provide a service to residents of the north of Manchester City Council. To get to the St Margaret’s corner of the park (apart from walking through the park - not possible at night!) you need to travel through Bury Council for over a mile by either tram, car or bus. Surely somewhere more apporpriate can be found for such a facility if there is a demand in northern Manchester?

Much was made of the 60% of the time at the Soccer Centre which will be available for Manchester and Bury schools and community groups. Don’t get me wrong this is a brilliant opportunity but we shouldn’t misunderstand what this provision is. My understanding is that this will be on the whole times during the school day, and outside those times people will have to pay to use the facilities. I don’t know what GOALS will charge for the Heaton Park site but I understand it to be £30-40 an hour to hire a 5-a-side pitch.

- we’re concerned that the decision to make the lease has been made whilst the planning decisions are being investigated by the Local Government Ombudsman. Local residents from the St Margaret’s area have made a complaint to the Ombudsman about the processes in the planning decision made by Manchester City Council. The complaint has been submitted by the Ombudsman to the Council who responded before Christmas, but the Ombudsman is still considering the response and the issues it addresses.

Scrutiny isn’t meant to be a party political process. But once again I witnessed Manchester Councillors divide on party political grounds. Three Liberal Democrat councillors voted to send the issue back for further consideration; but they were voted down by 7 Labour councillors who voted to go ahead with the lease.

For me its a terrible shame. A beautiful piece of open parkland will be lost forever, and a quiet corner of Prestwich will be changed forever with a major sports complex just over the fence.

A great idea in the wrong place, and a very sad day for Heaton Park.

Bury Lib Dems welcome Heaton Park Sell Off delay

Construction of a controversial soccer centre in Heaton Park has been delayed after Liberal Democrat Councillors “called in“ proposals to sell off land in the park.

A planning application was heard earlier this year by Manchester City Council who own Heaton Park. All Labour Councillors voted in favour of the plans to concrete over a corner of the park and open a pay-to-play five-a-side soccer centre. All Lib Dems voted against, citing community concerns over noise, traffic, and the destruction of green space. The application was successful, and on December 7th Manchester City Council agreed to lease the land to Goals Soccer Centre to commence construction.

Now though, the continuing community protests, including a 10,000 signature petition, have led to Lib Dems “calling in” that decision for further scrutiny.

The call-in means at least a temporary delay to the project, forcing the Council to look again at community objections.

Bury Lib Dem Leader Cllr Tim Pickstone said today “I am pleased that our Lib Dem colleagues in Manchester have ‘called in’ this decision. Local Councillors in Holyrood and Sedgley, such as Steve Wright and Ann Garner have been at the forefront of efforts to look again at this decision.”

“Given that thousands of residents objected to these plans originally, a complaint has been made to the Local Government Ombudsman that the Council have not followed due process. Six issues have arisen through this consultation process that have not previously been addressed, so we felt that further scrutiny was necessary.”

Cllr Pickstone continued

“I am pleased that Manchester City Council will be forced to look again at these proposals which local people have objected to since the start. We continue to fight to save Heaton Park.”

Object to Manchester City Council?s Plans to Dispose of Part of Heaton Park to Facilitate Sports Zone
Although Manchester City Council?s Planning and Highways Committee have approved Goals Soccer
planning application in Heaton Park. Manchester City Council still have to give notice that they intended to
dispose of (by the way of a long term lease) land situated in Heaton Park.
You can object to Manchester City Council plans to lease this area of Heaton Park for the purposes of a sports
complex.

Objections to the intended disposal of land must be made in writing quoting reference L/JGH/CVL2021/54 and
sent to the address below no later than 20th September 2010.

Susan Orrell
City Solicitor
Manchester City Council
PO Box 532
Town Hall
Manchester
M60 2LA

Or email .orrell@manchester.gov.uk

Thank you for your continued support.

After taking legal advice we will not be asking for a Judicial Review regarding Manchester City Council’s decision to approve Goals Soccer Centres plans to build a five-a-side centre in Heaton Park.

However we have been informed by Government Office North West that we have the right to make a formal complaint to the Local Government Ombudsman. We must firstly write to Sir Howard Bernstein Chief Executive at Manchester City Council with our complaints about the conduct of the Planning & Highways Committee held on the 11th February 2010. If we are unhappy with his findings we will then be able to appeal to the Local Government Ombudsman. If we feel there are grounds for an appeal we will contact you again soon with further details about appealing to the Local Government Ombudsman.
Please write or email Sir Howard Bernstein,Chief Executive, P.O. Box 532,

Town Hall, Albert Square, Manchester, M60 2LA

H.BERNSTEIN@MANCHESTER.GOV.UK
When you write please mention the Planning Application 090370/FO/2009/N1 proposed sports development at Heaton Park. Don’t hesitate to mention that if you are not happy with their reply that you will be considering appealing to the Local Government Ombudsman.

As well as writing your own complaint other areas of concern you may wish to consider are:

Refusal to hold a site visit, particular when they had agreed to visit Chorlton Meadows a similar but much smaller planning application. There was no consideration given to the large number of objections raised by the public and heritage bodies.

Omission of Garden History Society letter. The Garden History Society are a major consultee who objected to the plans. Their letter should have been in the report for the Planning & Highways Committee so their views could be properly considered. Instead it was brought to the attention of the committee by an objector.
We consider Councillor Lyons had a conflict of interest sitting on the Heaton Park Trust who supported Goals planning application as well as being a member of the Planning & Highways Committee hearing the planning application.

Absence of Councillor Joyce Keller who missed 15 minutes of the meeting only to come back and vote to approve the planning application.

The more people who complain the more pressure on Manchester City Council.

Manchester City Council passed the controversial plans for artificial soccer pitches, tennis courts, car parking and a club house which would take up the entire St Margaret’s corner of Heaton Park earlier this year. This was despite more than 10,000 people raising objections in some way to the plans, with letters, petitions and the “Save Heaton Park” Facebook group. Following the decision the campaigners have taken legal advice about the decision, and have asked the Government Office for the North West through Ivan Lewis MP to refer the decision to the Secretary of State for reconsideration.

Local Liberal Democrat Councillor Tim Pickstone, who worked with the campaigners said: “It’s a terrible shame but this really does seem like it’s the last attempt to save the park. Hopefully the powers that be will see sense. There is clearly so much wrong with this decision. How any elected official can ignore so much local opposition continues to amaze me”.

“The campaign group want to say a huge ‘thank you’ to everyone who has been so supportive. The level of support for the campaign has been absolutely brilliant. We will keep people informed on how the referral to the Secretary of State goes.”

…. is how everyone involved in the Campaign feels after Manchester Council’s Planning Committee has today voted , about 9 votes to 5 votes to APPROVE the Commercial Soccer Centre in Heaton Park.

An impressive crowd of protestors made it to Manchester Town Hall on a Thursday afternoon and the public areas were packed with protestors.

Councillors first voted on a request made by local Prestwich Councillor Tim Pickstone for a site visit (so that the Councillors would consider this at their next meeting after visiting the area) but this was voted down about 9 votes to 5.

Then the campaign got a make its case when local resident Paul Toner spoke against the plans, together with statements from local Councillors Tim Pickstone, Wilf Davison and spokesperson for Ivan Lewis MP. A spokesperson for Goals Soccer Centres spoke in favour of the proposals.

There was controversy when it came to light that a response from the Garden Historical Society AGAINST the plans had not been included in the paperwork for the meeting. The GHS are a statutory consultee on this issue and they raised serious concerns about the impact of the centre on the historical character of the park, and on how it would impact on the entrance way.

A proposal to defer the decision to allow more time to consider this late objection was defeated 9 votes to 5. (Getting a pattern here?)

There was some debate by Councillors, but most remained silent.

Finally the proposal was approved by 9 votes to 5. Planning is a non-Party Political issue, but by chance……, all the Labour Councillors voted in favour, all the Liberal Democrat councillors voted against.

So, after all the hard work of the Campaign the proposal has been accepted. Everyone involved is gutted and devastated by the decision.

Manchester City Council is obviously very quick at writing press releases - this went out only minutes after the decision - interesting….

Claire
Donnelly/Chief.Ex
ecutives/MCC To

11/02/2010 14:48 Claire
Donnelly/Chief.Executives/MCC@mcc
cc

Subject
News release: Heaton Park plans get
go ahead

MANCHESTER CITY COUNCIL
NEWS RELEASE

11 February 2010

A sporting chance for local community

Read the rest of this entry »

On Thursday, 11 February 2010, the Planning Committee of Manchester City Council, will consider the planning application from Goals Soocer Centres UK for a commercial 5-a-side soccer centre at the At Margaret’s side of Heaton Park.

Remember that these revised plans include a massive 2.4m perimeter fence around the site, as well as further fenced off car-park, going up towards the reservoir. You can view all the plans at Manchester Council’s Website.

This could well be our LAST CHANCE to save Heaton Park - this is the third time that Goals have submitted their plan, but the first that its actually made it to the agenda for a committee meeting. The recommendation from the Planning Officers is to “Approve” the report.

We’ve had a terrific response to the campaign so far: hundreds of people have sent in objection letters and emails; signed the petitions and written to the press. Thank you for everything that people have done so far.

We still need help to stop this application:

If you are available on THURSDAY afternoon, join us outside Manchester Town Hall (Albert Square side) at 1.30pm. We’ll be going into the Committee meeting (this starts at 2.00pm) together where we’ll be allowed one person to speak on our behalf. Its important that as many people as possible come along and show the strength of feeling against the proposal.

Its not too late to apply pressure to your elected representatives - MPs and Councillors. If you live in Manchester please email your councillor telling them how strongly you oppose the application and ask them to represent you. You can automatically email all your councillors by entering your postcode at this website.

If you live in either Bury South or Manchester Blakeley Parliamenary constituencies why not email your MP telling them how strongly you feel?

Bury South - Ivan Lewis MP (Labour): ivanlewis@burysouth.fsnet.co.uk

Manchester Blakely - Graham Stringer MP (Labour): Link to email

Carry on keeping up the pressure:
- tell your friends
- if you’re on facebook copy this message to your friends
- if you use twitter - tweet about this!
- use any opportunity in the press, or in internet discussion sites to object to the proposals.

Follow these links to the Planning Committee agenda and the actual report.

Agendaf

Report

Keep up the campaign!

Due to the huge public outcry Goals Soccer Centres have failed to present their plans to Manchester City Council Planning Committee for a second time.

They are trying everything they can to get these plans approved. It’s up to us to stop them.
They have tried and failed in other parks. We must fight them every inch of the way.

Goals have been stopped before

Regents Park - REJECTED
Mordern Park -REJECTED

Lets stop them in Heaton Park and make it three nil for all those people who love open
parkland.

We urge you to object to this new planning application
The new planning application from Goals includes raising the level of the pitches by
80 centimeters which is almost a metre higher than they were originally planned. Making this blot on the landscape even more obvious.

Additionally security fencing is also planned. This physical and visual barrier will effectively cut off this area of parkland and thereby detract from the special character of this area of the park.

You need to send your objections to Manchester City Council by 3rd February 2010 If you have already sent in an objection during the last consultation period you will still need to send in another objection.

A - Sign the Online Petition HERE

If you’ve already signed - find TWO friends to sign! - Ask them to join the “Save Heaton Park” Facebook Group.

Here’s the link to the petition to send to a friend in an email.
http://www.saveheatonpark.org.uk/?page_id=2

B - Download and email / send in an objection letter.

Download the letter here - you can amend this letter to include your own words and objectsion.

Email your objection to r.griffin@manchester.gov.uk

C - Write your own Objection Letter

Quoting Application No: 090370/FO/2009/N1

and send to:

Peter Babb
Head of Planning
Manchester City Council
P.O. Box 463
Town Hall Extension
Manchester
M60 3NY

D - Attend the Save Heaton Park Meeting
Find out what has been happening with the campaign.

Monday 25 January 2010
7.00pm Church House (St Margaret’s Road, Opposite the Church), Prestwich.

Thank you for all your support so far!