Next week, Salford City Council is set to approve a complicated deal to sell land off Hill Top Road in Walkden, known as the 'Moss' and understood to be within the boundary of Blackleach Country Park, to developer Redwaters.
Back in 2014, the local community protested about such a proposed sale, and the controversy has raged ever since, including the illegal withholding of information by the Council.*
Indeed, the Residents and Friends of Hill Top Moss wrote an open letter to the then Deputy Mayor, David Lancaster, stating; "We are quite frankly shocked at the Council's blatant disregard of its own policies, which we believe have been put in place to protect the land for not only the enjoyment of local residents but also of the vast amounts of flora, and fauna that reside and travel through it".
The latest report going to the City Mayor's Property and Regeneration Briefing on 14th October, confirms that terms for a land sale had been approved in October 2013, while an 'Agreement for Lease was exchanged on 21st December 2018'.
The sale has been held up, the report states, due to "the identification of an area of Peel ownership fronting Hill Top Road", "an incident of illegal tipping" and "ongoing site investigations", which it adds have now been resolved. However, the Salford Star understands that the site is still infected with asbestos and many problems haven't been 'resolved'.
Now, following changes in the scheme design after 'site investigations', which includes additional land for a 'balancing pond' for drainage, the Council will sell the land for a 'revised premium' either at the price agreed last year, which included ten per cent affordable housing, or for a reduction based on twenty per cent affordable housing.
Also part of the deal is a commitment to improve facilities at Walkden Cricket Club and while there is no "no positive contractual obligations on the developer to develop the housing land or complete the cricket club works", the Council won't release fifty per cent of the land until the works have been completed.
"The developer has confirmed that Lancashire County Cricket Club are still supporting the scheme and are looking to utilise the facility for junior teams and providing training and coaching opportunities to tap into talent from the local area and other inner city areas" states the report, although Lancs CCC doesn't appear to be putting up any money, with funding possibly being accessed via Greater Manchester Combined Authority's Cricket Strategy. If funding does come via this route, the Council could 'potentially' claw back money from the developer as a capital receipt.
No financial figures are mentioned anywhere within the report, and neither is any mention made of the impact on the community and wildlife in the area. The report's Equality Impact Assessment and Implications states that the development will provide affordable housing and will 'enhance coaching opportunities' for cricket but states nothing about any community consultations or negative effects on the community.
Indeed a letter written by Salford Council to a local resident in 2004 states categorically that the land adjacent to Hill Top Road was "acquired by the City Council for the purposes of public recreation and open space..."
After the intervention of the Information Commissioner, residents also managed to obtain documents that that the land is a "Key Recreation Area", part of Blackleach Country Park, and that it is a "Wildlife Corridor Key Area of Search"...all designations that Salford Council policy seeks to protect...*
* For a full background see previous Salford Star articles on Hill Top Moss...
Salford Council Blackleach Country Park Sell Off Horror click here
Secret Salford Land Sell Off Draws Mafia Comparisons as Community Protests click here
Salford Council Freedom of Information Shocker in Walkden click here
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