A CAMPAIGN to reopen Parrs Wood Allotments to gardeners appears to have reached a dead end as the site looks set for a multistorey car park.
Under GMPTE plans the land looks certain to be developed with a 500 capacity car park to form part of a park and ride transport scheme.
Closed in 2006, the council owned allotments were original set to be sold off for development but, with its close proximity to East Didsbury train station and the proposed route of the Metrolink, the site is now seen as an ideal site for such a scheme.
Some campaigners who had hoped to see the allotments reopened for cultivation are now supporting the development.
Withington’s MP John Leech, who has previously slammed the council for allowing the allotments to grow fallow, said: "We have always argued that Parrs Wood Allotments should have been reopened and there was no justification for closing them. But the council made clear that it was not interested in reopening and came up with all sorts of excuses, and with that, this is the best solution for that land.
"For one it will help get lots of cars off the roads and secondly, it will discourage drivers who intended to park in the streets around the new (Metrolink) stations from doing so."
Former chairman of the allotments, and former Labour councillor, Geoff Bridson, said: "It would be ideal for a car park as it would resolve the problem of there being very little parking around the train station and create a park and ride scheme for Didsbury."
The Chorlton to East Didsbury extension to the Metrolink, and proposed park and ride schemes, were two of the four priorities identified in the Greater Manchester Transport Fund’s Accelerated Package report published last month.
A total of £244 million has been earmarked for the four fast-tracked schemes. Planning applications for the proposed East Didsbury Metrolink extension are currently working their way through the Council’s planning department and officers are hopeful the route can be secured this autumn.
Anyone interested in finding out more about the Metrolink proposals can go along to the following events: Parrs Wood High School Sports Hall on Wednesday November 4, from 5pm to 7pm, and The Northern Tennis Club on Thursday November 12, from 5pm to 7pm.
Officials from GMPTE will be on hand to discuss outline plans for the five stops that the extension would serve - Withington, Burton Road, West Didsbury, Didsbury Village and East Didsbury.
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S Alcock (20/02/2010 at 10:16)
However, the proposals for a multi-storey car park on the old allotments are completely at odds with sustainable transport planning, and smack of pure greed by the City Council. During the day the car park at Tesco East Didsbury is never more than half full, and the huge car park at the Parrs Wood entertainment centre is the same - a sea of empty spaces. And yet we are told a multi storey car park within 50m of both of these car parks is needed so that people can park by the Metrolink and then continue their journey by tram. The only purpose a multi storey would serve is to provide the Council with an income, and add to the already congested main roads at this busy intersection.
Park and Ride should be operated in conjunction with Tesco and PWEC, using their existing facilities that the local highway network is designed for. The remaining allotments can then be turned into a formal green space, which we only ever seem to lose when new development occurs!
local_lass, Burnage (22/02/2010 at 13:09)
Though I doubt it will.