We now come to the important business of the day. I rise to
present a petition about the Greater Manchester spatial
framework and, in particular, the Romiley green belt. Since
the framework’s publication in 2016, I have consistently
urged that the overall number of houses needs to be
reduced, that where houses are to be built, we should
follow a robust brownfield-first strategy, and that local
green-belt land, which is highly valued by local people,
should be protected.
One such site, which is of particular concern in my
constituency, is Hyde Bank Meadows in Romiley. It comprises
a well-used community sports facility, a popular green
space, a nature reserve, orchards and allotments. The loss
of this green space would be damaging to the local
environment, the community and the health and wellbeing of
local people.
I have worked closely with the Friends of Tangshutt group
over recent weeks, and I am especially grateful to Chantal
Johnson for her help in collecting the signatures for this
petition, which has been signed by 692 local residents.
The petition:
Declares that the revised Greater Manchester Spatial
Framework should avoid the residential development of 250
units on the greenbelt at the site of Hyde Bank Meadows in
Romiley; notes that the proposed site contains well-used
community facilities of Tangshutt fields including, playing
fields, three football pitches, a children’s play area, and
outdoor gym; further notes the proposed site is adjacent to
Tangshutt Meadow, popular green space, a nature reserve,
community orchards and allotments, which are all hugely
valued by local people; further declares concern about
insufficient road access and increasing traffic levels,
endangering child safety by blocking a section the ‘Safe
Route School’, loss of sports and exercise facilities for
both individuals and teams, and loss of community event
space which unites two areas of existing housing; further
declares such a loss of this green space would be damaging
to the local environment, the community, and the health and
well being of local people; and further notes the
petitioners oppose plans for a new residential development
on Hyde Park Meadows as set out in the Greater Manchester
Spatial Framework-Revised Draft (2019).
The petitioners therefore request that the House of Commons
urges the Greater Manchester Combined Authority,
the Stockport Metropolitan Borough Council, and the
Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government not
to support plans of this development.
And the petitioners remain, etc.
