Petition against Godley Green Garden Village gathers pace

Opposition to plans to build the Godley Green Garden Village housing development continues to grow, with almost 3,000 people having signed a petition against the proposal.

This week, campaigners who are taking a stand against the plans to build more than 2,300 homes on greenbelt said they were ‘not against houses’ but that ‘these are in the wrong place’. 

The Save Tameside Greenbelt Facebook group, first set up in 2016 to protect greenbelt land, is continuing to campaign against proposals for the development, earmarked between Mottram and Hattersley. 

Their petition, started just a few weeks ago, has already been backed by over 2,800 people. 

However, due to the national lockdown, the group can’t go to houses to petition or gather in groups to march in protest. 

Many of the group’s members attended an online public consultation on 25 February that allowed them to put questions to the council, but they say many were not answered. 

Claire Elliott, creator of the petition, claimed: “The council didn’t advertise the development or the public form. They’re not trying to engage people and they’re ignoring those of us who speak up. 

“Godley Green is supposed to have affordable housing, and when I asked about it in the meeting, they didn’t have any information.” 

It is not the first time that councils across Greater Manchester have faced a backlash from greenbelt campaigners over proposals to build on greenbelt. 

Last year, a planning application was put in for an industrial park in Bredbury, Stockport, to extend their site onto greenbelt land, which was objected against by Tameside Council.  

Claire added: “Tameside Council fought for the Bredbury site not to be built on, but it feels like they’re handing Godley Green over on a silver platter. 

“We know we need houses, especially affordable ones. We’re not against them, but these are in the wrong place.”

She believes many of the houses being built are for commuters, though in a statement to the group National Rail confirmed they could not supply more trains to the stations along the Hattersley to Manchester Piccadilly line. 

Alder Community High School's headteacher had also replied to the group in an email about the effect of Godley Green. 

It reads: “We don’t yet know the impact on school places if the project goes ahead, apart from the fact that we are not able to increase our numbers beyond our current plans in our existing buildings. 

“Our school received far more first choices for September 2021 than we have places for. Our current admissions number is 180, but we had a bulge year of 210 in 2021.”

The Godley Green site is classed as greenbelt, meaning it is protected land used to conserve countryside around cities and towns - different to greenfield land; a distinction Claire is eager to make. Greenfield is agricultural land that is not protected by the same regulations. 

Alan French, 71, has lived on the land for seven years and realised his property wasn’t shown on the council’s proposals for the land. 

He added: “I had four people from the council come round to my home, trying to persuade me to sell it. I told them, ‘I don’t want to sell it, I love it here, I love the view’. 

“One of the men from the council replied, ‘you don’t own the view’. I think the council will do what the council wants to do. They’re thinking of the millions they’ll get from it. It’s certainly not going to be affordable housing.

“I’ve faced Compulsory Purchase Orders before on other properties, but this time, I’m definitely not selling.” 

Compulsory Purchase Orders allow public bodies to force homeowners to sell up their property if it obstructs a regeneration project or if it’s for the ‘greater public good’. 

Facebook group Save Tameside Greenbelt and its 3,400 members are pledging to continue to raise awareness of the development to fight to protect Godley Green. 

You can find out more and sign their petition online at you.38degrees.org.uk/petitions/save-the-greenbelt-in-hyde-godley-green 

Main image:

Aerial view of the Godley Green site.

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