Save Heaton Park

12th February 2010

Following the decision made by the planning committee, Ivan stated:

"I am bitterly disappointed at the planning committee's decision... I believe we should now consider all options which remain available to challenge this decision. I will be discussing these with the residents' committee as soon as possible. The fight must go on!"

Please see below to read the statement presented at the meeting of the planning committee:

HEATON PARK - STATEMENT BY IVAN LEWIS

I am sorry that due to parliamentary commitments I am unable to attend the committee in person. I am very grateful that the chair has agreed to allow Trevor Holt to present my statement at today's meeting.

Over the past few years it has suited some to use Heaton Park as a vehicle to pitch Prestwich residents against Manchester City Council. In their personal lives they have been regular visitors to Heaton Park and benefited from the enhanced facilities and environment. Politically it has suited them to create a "them and us" approach to the City Council and Prestwich residents. I have never been willing to collude with this cynical approach. I have great respect for the vision and strategy developed by Manchester City Council which has arrested the decline of Heaton Park and restored its reputation as one of the world's great municipal parks.

It is in this context I urge the Planning Committee to consider the application before it today. It is entirely at odds with a municipal park which rightly seeks to be the envy of the world.  It will undoubtedly generate income but on a scale which is relatively insignificant and at the expense of principles from a planning and environmental perspective which should be non-negotiable.

·        The committee should refuse this application for a number of reasons.
The proposed development will mean the loss of 2.3 hectares of historic parkland in contravention of PPG15 advice.

·        The proposed development is incompatible with the Manchester City Council's Unitary Development Plan - specifically Polices L1.4, BM13 and E2.1.

·        The proposed development is at odds with PPG2 which makes it clear that the fundamental aim of green belt policy is to "prevent urban sprawl by keeping land permanently open and the most important attribute of green belt is their openness".

·        Added to these factors are a variety of other planning issues. Road congestion, parking, noise, light and air pollution all of which will detrimentally affect my constituents who live on St Margarets Road, Polefield Road and a number of roads off St Margarets Road in Prestwich. Their quality of life is already adversely affected by the impact of congestion.

In summary, this proposed development contravenes planning guidance and Manchester City Council's Unitary Development Plan.  I would urge the Planning Committee to reject this application or at the very least defer a decision pending a site visit. This would demonstrate the Committee's independence and reassure people that planning not commercial factors are of primary concern.

As a lifelong user of Heaton Park and the MP for many residents who live near to and use the park, I hope the Committee will accept the validity and legitimacy of my objection to this application.

As a true friend of Heaton Park I believe this application is inconsistent with the vision we share for the future of the park. Rejecting this application is not the easy option but from a planning perspective is the right option.

Thank you for giving me the opportunity to present the case on behalf of many residents across Greater Manchester who are passionately opposed to this application

Ivan Lewis

Bury South                                                   

11^th February 2010