CAMPAIGNERS are aiming to raise a £50,000 'war chest' to fight plans to build a £100m racecourse.
More than a hundred protestors packed a public meeting to discuss the proposals to build the huge development, which includes an international golf course, hotel and equestrian centre, at Salford Forest Park.
Members of campaign group RAGE, Residents Against Greenbelt Erosion, met at St Mark's Church, Worsley, and revealed plans to set up a fighting fund to employ a legal team to fight the proposals at a public inquiry.
A patron's club will be set up and regular fundraising activities held. Initial donations of more than £800 were made at the meeting.
Property giants Peel Holdings are behind the ambitious scheme and will now ask the government to intervene at a public enquiry, accusing Salford and Wigan councils of stalling on making a decision. A date for the enquiry hearing has yet to be set but the M.E.N. can reveal it is likely to be held around Easter next year.
RAGE said the plans would lead to a 'colossal urbanisation' of more than 2,000 acres of greenbelt land.
A spokesman said: "Peel Holdings are going for broke with their appeal against the entirely justified delays by Salford and Wigan councils in dealing with their planning application. It would lead to a colossal urbanisation of our greenbelt, cause yet more traffic congestion, and subject thousands of local residents to fly parking and noise and light pollution.
Traffic
"We estimate something like 10,000 cars and coaches could flood the area adding to the major traffic problems we experience at the motorway junctions and the surrounding roads."
Salford councillor Karen Garrido, leader of the Tory opposition on Salford council, and her husband Robin, also a councillor in Boothstown and Ellenbrook, are active campaigners. Robin, co-chairman of RAGE, said: "We have launched an appeal for £50,000, which is what we expect it will cost to fight the plans. We are asking for donations.
"There were more than 100 people at the meeting, which was excellent. The first application was lodged years ago and the attendance shows that people's views have not dwindled."
The plan, based on land next to Botany Bay Wood, off Leigh Road, was first unveiled by Peel, owners of the Trafford Centre, six years ago but withdrawn then scaled down and re-submitted for planning approval after an outcry in June 2004. The plans were again re-submitted last year, with changes to traffic filtering off the M60 at Worsley.
The plans involve an oval racetrack, a 6,000-seat grandstand, 18-hole international golf course, 80-bedroom hotel, equestrian centre and an 'eco village'.
Salford council's planning committee will meet on December 18 to discuss the proposals - although the ultimate say will lie in the hands of the planning inspector.
Coun Garrido said campaigners would attend the meeting. He added: "It is not just a racecourse. It will be a massive development. There will be something on for 52 weeks of the year. It is not just monthly race meets.
"The racecourse stand will be as tall as the Reebok Stadium and there will be traffic gridlock."
Issues surrounding the development's use of the M60 motorway have yet to be agreed.
Comments
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This racecourse would be a big cash generator for Salford/Manchester and create lots of jobs, in the current climate the people of Salford should be grateful for the investment. Some people just like complianing though
I would bring it over the border into Manchester somewhere near North Manchester
i think this is a fantastic idea ,i would love to go to a horse racing meeting ever now and again with the family,we would be able to jump on the metro link and be there in 15 minutes,no long drives on congested motorways, also think of all the jobs and income it would bring to the area ,
bring it on the sooner the better
whistlingdixie is spot on the sporting venue is a must. Jobs, Jobs and more jobs.
More claptrap from the not in my backyard crew.Ten thousand cars ?? Where do they get their figures from. Bet this lot are in favour of the con tax too.
It's worth remembering, it's either this or another few thousand houses in the future. The plans of which have already been mooted !
Whistlingdixy do you live in this area. If you did you would not vote for it. Its not just the views (all greenbelt) that would be lost the traffic is horrendous at the best of times and to add more is just a nightmare. I live in the area and would invite you to visit the proposed site.
whistlingdixy, while I agree that your comments are correct, it does feel a little like the 'planners' are playing sim city here. The area needs activites for it's teenage populace & families. A racecourse doen's fit the bill, there are plenty of options, as I say, sim city.
"This racecourse would be a big cash generator for Salford/Manchester and create lots of jobs, in the current climate the people of Salford should be grateful for the investment. Some people just like complianing though" - whistlingdixy,
So who is paying your wages 'Dixie'?
Peel? Surely not!
Would be far better than building large office blocks,and what a boost back to the old MANCHESTER NOVEMBER HANDICAP "BRING IT ON"
I agree it will be a huge investment for Salford and surrounding areas bet most of the opposition live in Worlsey dont want anything on their doorsteps do they fine complaining about unemployment etc, we are in a recession and there is an opportunity to bring a huge investment to what is in some parts run down. A development like this will bring some wealth to the area and obviously create employment where it was lost many years ago. Give Salford a chance put it on the map with a plush new development.
Laura Norder - Ermmm No I dont work for Peel?!
I also commented on an armed burglary article that day, so to clarify I am not one of the masked criminals either.
I hardly think that 100 people turning up to the meeting is going to make Peel Holdings shake in their boots.
At the present time I have no strong feelings either way although I do live in the area and the traffic congestion at rush hour is already ridiculous. Bearing that in mind it was hoped that the proposals for the congestion charge would have benefited the area better but alas no. Very minimal improvements if at all.
Further discussion needs to go into this before I will make up my mind whether to back the project or not.
The main problem would appear to be around traffic, the area is certainly one of the worst in the region, if not the country, for congestion. No question it will increase congestion as there appears to be very little in this to address the problem.
Also the money generated by this wll not be benefiting the region as any profit will be going straight into the accounts of companies involved in running their businesses on site - anyone remember the 25 million the UEFA Cup final was going to bring to manchester?, ask mcc where its gone? Certainly not to the local people/area.
However the positives could be good in terms of the best leisure facilities of its type in the region. I'm sure it will go ahead and be very opular, but I do think the people living close by, especially Boothstown, will not really gain anything and leave them more snarled up in the traffic blackspot it has become.
James French, Bury
Are you having a laugh?? The Metrolink doesn't go anywhere near Boothstown. Uncongested motorways?? It's one of the worst traffic jam blackspots in the whole of Greater Manchester. You'd be lucky to get there in an hour and a half on racedays
There's a perfectly good racecourse just a few miles further down the road so why not build a new racecourse closer to Manchester on a brownfield site rather than this glorious bit of countryside and Moss?
my suggestion to peel is scrap this project!
if the locals dont want major a creation of jobs nearby then dont give them it!