Opponents against controversial plans to build more than 2,000 homes on green belt land at Godley Green have rounded on Tameside Council leader Councillor Brenda Warrington after comments she made at a fractious full council meeting.

More than 3,400 objections were submitted against the plans before the deadline for public comments on the planning application closed earlier this month. 

Under the plans, up to 2,150 homes would be built to the north of Mottram Old Road, as well as ‘local centres’ which would include up to 1,300 sq m of retail, 1,600 sq m of commercial uses and 1,000 sq m of local community uses.

A petition against the garden village - which raises concern about the loss of the countryside and recreation space, lack of transport and education infrastructure and the impact on roads - has also gained 4,400 signatures.

At the annual budget meeting of Tameside Council on Tuesday evening (22 February), there was a war of words between the Labour and Tory groups. 

Turning her anger on the Tameside Tories, a clearly testy Cllr Warrington stated: "Godley Green, I make no mistake, I will be on that first bulldozer and that is a promise. I will be on that bulldozer that actually starts to dig up, ready to build houses on Godley Green. Believe me, it will be rammed down your throat - it really will, it really will, it really will." 

🗣Council leader Brenda Warrington tells Tameside Tories who oppose the Godley Green garden village plans to build 2,150 homes in the Hyde green belt that she will ‘be on that bulldozer’ #LDReporter pic.twitter.com/32AYu3cT5X

— Charlotte Green (@Char_Green_Fact) February 23, 2022

The quote was in response to a stunt pulled by Stalybridge South Tory Councillor Liam Billington at a meeting last July, when he stripped off his shirt to sport a T-Shirt underneath which stated 'Bulldozer Brenda'.

Cllr Billington tweeted afterwards: "This comment was directed in a response to me. What did you mean by 'rammed down your throat' exactly @tmbc_leader? What are you inferring? Your contempt for the electorate will not go unpunished in May." 

This comment was directed in a response to me. What did you mean by “rammed down your throat” exactly @tmbc_leader? What are you inferring?

Your contempt for the electorate will not go unpunished in May. pic.twitter.com/4D5ZkklMa6

— Cllr. Liam Billington (@liambillington) February 22, 2022

The leader's comments have been met with widespread condemnation.

Claire Elliott, a spokesperson for the Save Tameside Greenbelt group which has been campaigning against the Godley Green plans, stated: "We are utterly disgusted at the comments of our council leader Brenda Warrington. Her total lack of respect for the greenbelt and the people that care about it, is quite frankly shocking and disgusting! 

"Her lack of professionalism is also very apparent! How can we trust these people, who have been placed in a figure of authority and power? To expect them to be unbiased and not be closed minded in the planning process? The answer is we can't! As an update, we have been consulting with Leith Planning, who submitted a detailed objection on our behalf.  

"They will continue to help us throughout the process and we will be raising money again for their assistance as they have been invaluable for their professional take on this. We have also looked in to the “call in” procedure, which would see the Secretary of State step in and take control of the decision. The government department has said that it needs to be done nearer the time and implying that the council may not hold a planning committee on Godley Green garden village until later on this year, maybe even next year!

"This all means people can keep on objecting and submitting comments right up till the council make a decision. When you see the uproar that the Clean Air Zone scheme has caused and how it will affect everyone and small businesses... you wonder why Greater Manchester councils are so adamant we have this scheme. Then in the same breath they want to rip up the green lungs which is our countryside which would bring approximately another 4,500 cars to the area! This just adds insult to injury… you just couldn’t write it!" 

indicative proposals for Godley Green 'garden village'. Credit: Tameside Council. 

In reference to Cllr Warrington's comment, Councillor Doreen Dickinson - Leader of the Conservative Group on Tameside Council - tweeted: "This is Tameside Labour’s kinder, gentler politics." 

Also on Twitter, Andrea Colbourne, Chair of Hyde Conservatives, accused Cllr Warrington of 'showing her contempt to the electorate of Tameside', while Hyde Werneth Conservative councillor Phil Chadwick branded the council leader as 'a disgrace'. 

The Reporter asked Cllr Warrington to respond to the protest her remarks had prompted and reveal the reasons for the comments she made at the meeting. You can read her statement here.

Council chiefs have previously said that the project is being developed under the principles of garden cities championed by Ebenezer Howard more than a century ago, and that meeting its housing target over the next 17 years would be 'entirely unrealistic' without developing the land at Godley Green.

If approved, the huge development would generate £9 million in income for the council, chiefs say.

Homes England has supported the project with a £10 million grant, which would have a minimum of 15 per cent affordable housing provision.

A final decision by the planning committee is not due until the summer, according to the local authority. But even if the plans are approved by the council’s planning committee, they will then go to the Secretary of State who will make the final decision on whether to allow it to go ahead.

Meanwhile, the budget for the 2022/23 financial year - which will raise council tax by 2.99 per cent - was also passed at Tuesday's meeting. 

Councillor Mike Glover was also nominated as the Civic Mayor for next year, with Councillor Tafheen Sharif supported as the deputy mayor for 2022/23. 

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