Star date: 31st August 2014

SECRET SALFORD COUNCIL OPEN LAND SELL OFF DRAWS MAFIA COMPARISONS

"It's just shocking what they're getting away with, there's no accountability with these people" Shirley Jones, resident

Over 150 people this afternoon marched through Blackleach Country Park to protest against the proposed sell off of Hill Top Moss open land by Salford Council to developers Redwaters. Residents and supporters are angry that the sale has been shrouded in secret deals and are furious that the Council is not telling them what's going on...

"They're like the Mafia" said campaigner Margaret Kehoe.

Full details here...

Over 150 people, including residents and people from the wider community, marched this afternoon from Hill Top Road in Walkden, through Blackleach Country Park and through the open space field that Salford Council is proposing to sell to developer, Redwaters, for housing.

The protest centred around opposition to the loss of open land, part of Blackleach Country Park, and the attitude of Salford City Council towards its own residents, with the deal shrouded in secrecy, despite ongoing negotiations with the developer for over two years.

"I think all the secrecy is terrible, disgusting, they should open up and let us know what they are doing instead of doing it behind closed doors like they always do; they're like the Mafia" said campaigner Margaret Kehoe

"From my house I can see all the greenery, if they put houses on you won't see anything, and at our age you like to see a bit of greenery" she added "And it's a shame for the Walkden Boys Club because they play football on there, where will they go?"

Placards being carried gave messages to Salford Council, ranging from direct quotes from its policies on protecting recreational land, to a list of fauna and flora on the site, to one stating bluntly `Why are Salford Council ignoring us – what have they got to hide?'

"The Council is supposed to think about people but in this case they're putting money before people which is all wrong in my opinion" said oldest resident George Bryan, who lives on the row of houses facing Hill Top Moss.

"I've lived here nearly all my life, I was born in this row and I think I'll die in this row but I'm disappointed in what the Council wants to do with this land" he added "I hope they change their mind."

While all local councillors were invited, none turned up to support the residents. Only Councillor Iain Lindley, from neighbouring ward, Walkden South, showed up.

"I'm here to support the residents who are protesting against the potential loss of a very valued open space" he said "There aren't a huge number of green spaces like this in the area, and this is for residents across the area, not just for those in the vicinity. The loss of these sorts of spaces does affect the wider community.

"We've got two in Walkden; we've got here and the former St George's School playing fields at Burgess Farm which is a very similar case to this one" he added "I just think it's hypocrisy from the Council because on one hand they're saying `We want to protect green spaces', while on the other hand they're saying `Well actually we now want to sell these spaces off to developers'

"They're making it very difficult for residents to object too" he explained "They're making it very difficult for residents to find out as most of the documents are in Part 2 which is secret. We had an entire call-in on the decision for St George's playing fields and I had to sign a confidentiality agreement just to see the documents in the first place."

For the flog-off of Hill Top Moss, residents are getting virtually no information, and have even been barred from discussing it at their own Walkden Community Committee meeting.

"The group did go to the last community committee meeting and they promised to put it on the agenda of the next one and officers would report back to us" explained resident Shirley Jones "Now we've had an email to say that procedures and processes are ongoing with the sale of Hill Top Moss land, and it would be inappropriate to ask at the community committee meeting, so we are being denied the opportunity to speak about it in public, that's how we see it. But we're going anyway.

"None of our own ward councillors have been in touch, although apparently they've known about this for a long time and should have told residents" she added "I'm so disappointed about how they are ignoring us, we don't understand why it's all being done so secretly. We're told the decision will be made behind closed doors. It's just shocking what they're getting away with, there's no accountability with these people it seems. They won't tell us when the decision will be made, so there'll be more protests. We're in the dark but we'll keep going..."

Today's protest march has encouraged campaigners to take further action in a fight against the sell off of green and open spaces that is being repeated all over Salford.

"Trying to sell the land for houses, I think, is a bit of a joke because there's a lot of habitat on there, a lot of wildlife" said Tammy Green, who lives opposite the Moss "If Salford Council try and sell the land for one thing, as soon as we know it Blackleach will be going and there'll be no greenery left. It's been a fantastic turnout today, given that we had such a short space of time to organise it, and the message to Salford Council? `Don't build any houses!'

• For a full background on the sale of Hill Top Moss see previous Salford Star article – click here