Plans to use 98 acres of prime greenbelt land for industrial use look set to be dropped.
Salford City Council had earmarked the land at Barton Moss, on the Eccles and Irlam border, to attract companies to the borough.
It would have meant either Grade I agricultural land or Boysnope Park golf course being ripped up to provide warehousing and other industry.
But the proposal triggered a wave of criticism from residents and politicians. They feared major traffic congestion in the area as Peel Holdings already plan to open a huge freight terminal in Barton - Port Salford.
Salford City Reds rugby league team are also due to move into a new stadium in Barton in 2012. Protestors staged a mass march in the location last month.
Councillor Derek Antrobus said: "There has been overwhelming public concern about the suggestion. I welcome that because I would be more concerned if there wasn’t an outcry over the loss of greenbelt.
"The objectors have also made telling points about the practicality of the idea. There are clear concerns about the way the need for employment land has been calculated.
"Another major concern is about the impact on traffic. I don’t think we can say anything certain about that until Port Salford and the Reds stadium are up and running.
"We cannot risk the permanent loss of greenbelt land on the basis of evidence that is so uncertain. On the current evidence I would recommend that the council rejects the option to allocate greenbelt land."
The proposal had been ncluded in the draft Core Strategy report which outlines the council’s planning vision up to 2027.
It has been welcomed by former Labour councillors Roger Jones and Christine Hudson.
In a joint statement, they said: "This shows that a Labour council is genuine about consultation and listens to the arguments. It also shows how putting forward sound arguments delivers results.
"The big debate now will be about those who want to support the Labour council in protecting the greenbelt and those like Peel Holdings who want a mass of greenbelt to be released."
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MarkinIrlam, Irlam (12/03/2010 at 12:19)
Salford advertiser, Roger Jones is not a councillor. He made sure of that by proposing the congestion charge.
Jill (16/03/2010 at 20:47)
Perhaps the fact that a local and general election is looming, has some bearing on this? As Irlam people we have already proved that our ex-councillor Roger Jones is not infallible. He was soon ousted by our votes when he supported the congestion charge. Now, I feel that his only interests in this issue, are a veiled attempt to win back his old seat on the council.
Sorry Mr Jones and your colleagues in Salford Council,do you really think we are all labour voting brainwashed sheep?
Written proof that ALL building plans have been rejected for this land indefinately, will be the only thing to convince me of the sincerity of Mr Antrobus and the rest of Salford Council, in their statements that they wish protect this area of the City. It is the only way that we, and generations to come can be guaranteed the opportunity to still enjoy the wildlife and openess of Barton Moss.
Jillin irlam. Irlam
Simon Davies (17/03/2010 at 23:39)
"The big debate now will be about those who want to support the Labour council in protecting the greenbelt"
Yeah, right! Protect it how exactly, by coating it in tarmac & concrete? Who are they trying to kid?
I don't believe anything they say. The only thing I do believe is that the days of the greenbelt are numbered under them. It has attracted too much attention and will never be left alone now.
Labour does not care about the greenbelt, the wildlife it sustains or the quality of life of those Salford residents who don't want to live in a concrete jungle. They just care about their tax revenue. I suspect that Peel's proposals for industrial use probably did not maximise the councils potential to raise tax. Salford Council are slowly choking Salford to death. Strangling it with ill thought out 'affordable' property development projects that overcrowd existing residential areas, add strain to the ailing road network, but generate lucrative council tax revenue.
I don't understand why Peel don't stop beating about the bush and submit a plan that subscribes to the Labour dream: a straight-forward, massive housing estate consisting of thousands of bland, tiny boxes to cram people into. No need for gardens. Just think of all that council tax! No way would they reject that!
andy waytomakeacomment, Greater Manchester (21/03/2010 at 00:40)
Any chance any one's looking in this ?
MarkinIrlam, Irlam (07/04/2010 at 14:47)
There is an answer though!! DON'T VOTE LABOUR IN THE GENERAL OR LOCAL ELECTIONS.
MarkinIrlam, Irlam (16/04/2010 at 15:55)
Then the surplus water is pumped back into the point of extraction, various concerns about this are that peat moss retains thousands of tonnes of other greenhouse gas's such as CO2.
A defra report states that:
UK soils contain over 10 billion tonnes of carbon, more than half of which is in peatlands.
The 2009 Soil Strategy set out the Government’s approach to safeguarding our soils. Defra will publish additional guidance this year on how farmers can best protect their soil.
Later this year Defra will consult on a new Peat Framework for Action and publish the results of research on how best to protect our vital peatlands.
Continued peat extraction:
Damaging Natural Environments
Peat moss bogs, which is where most of the peat moss comes from, are a non-renewable resource. They have developed their own ecosystems, which sustain life, and removing peat moss also destroys these environments.
All of this will effect you and many generations to come, the whole process is not disimilar to strip mining as the plant involved will continually march on to extract new area'a as the methane becomes exhausted.
The thing is that it would take years for the moss to recover from this and the release of greenhouse gas would be irreversible, all of this is being done because of the need for new and sustainable fuel sources which is part of the governments fuel strategy.
However it is not sustainable and the damage to the environment may well be greater than any benefits gained.
Remember that most of this is in the control of your local council who seem to yield to the constant demands of development companies.
If you don't like it you can have your say at the polling booth on May the 6th.