Last month residents in Hill Top Road, Walkden, uncovered, what they said was an underhand deal done by Salford Council to flog off the public open space Hill Top Moss to developer Redwaters (see previous Salford Star article for full background – click here).
The residents were given just two weeks to object to the sale in principle of the Moss, which is part of Blackleach Country Park, after Salford Council agents had been in discussions for over two years with the developers. The decision is now, apparently, down to one Assistant Mayor, Councillor David Lancaster, whose name appears to crop up every time there are controversial schemes in the city.
"The Moss has been public open space land for as long as anyone can remember, generations have used it" says Shirley Jones from Residents and Friends of Hill Top Moss "It's a vital part of the wildlife corridor according to the Council's own policies. It's the highest point in Salford with views to die for! All of which they've conveniently forgotten about now that a small, out of town developer is throwing money at them.
"We only found out by accident but Salford Council said no decisions have been made when we asked what was going on, so lulled locals into a false of security" she adds "Later they told us they've been in negotiations with a developer for two and half years! Residents got barely two weeks to object. Why only this one developer? David Lancaster and Ian Stewart both ignore our group's letters. David Lancaster is making the decision on his own behind closed doors soon, they won't tell us when. You all know the drill!"
The residents' group has organised a family protest march and walk around Hill Top Moss for tomorrow, Sunday 31st August at noon, and people are urged to bring their kids and dogs...
"The walk is from Hill Top Road onto the Country Park and onto the land they want to rob us of" says Shirley "Walkden doesn't have much green left...Help us to shout out from Salford's highest point to the whole of Salford and beyond, our disgust at what they're doing to our city, not just here but everywhere."
Family Protest March
Sunday 31st August noon
Hill Top Road, Walkden
Hill Top Road is situated off Bolton Road (A575) just through Walkden town centre on the right past Tesco, and opposite the entrance to Blackleach Country Park.
UPDATE: 31st August - Hill Top Protest A Huge Success - click here