ANGER AS PEEL SEEKS PERMISSION TO CHALLENGE THE HIGH COURTS DECISION TO DENY IT APPEAL OVER BROADOAK

At a time when our Council's budget is cut to the shreds and our local services are under ever increasing pressures, the constant and unrelenting legal battles between the Council and Peel over a patch of muddy land between Monton and Worsley have taken a huge toll on our Cities finances. 

So far that cost amounts to £402,086 but that increases even more when you add in the costs of staff time and resources spent on dealing with what seems to be an unending case.

On August 2nd, the High Courts added yet another in a long list of NO's to Peel Holdings plans to turn what amounts to a muddy cow field into a lucrative business opportunity as they seek permission to build up to 600 luxury homes. 

After being denied initially by the Council they were later denied again and again by two separate home secretaries and earlier this month (August) the High Courts agreed with the previous denials and told Peel that they would not be allowed to appeal the decision. The full ruling can be found on this link: Download

Peel have been locking horns with both the council and R.A.I.D (Residents Against Inappropriate Development) since 2013 and it was thought that the High Courts decision had finally put an end to Peels ambitions, sadly it appears that this is not the case.

Peel has now decided that it is going to challenge the courts decision to deny it an appeal. 

If successful it would mean that yet again, the Council would have to defend its position in court, costing money that the council simply can not afford to waste.

In an open letter to John Whittaker (Chairman of Peel Holdings), Salford City Mayor Paul Dennett encourage Peel to reconsider its application, citing the huge opposition from not only local residents but also the cross-party support against the development from the Council. 

Paul said,

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"The Council has now won three appeals including two public inquiries to protect the site from development, incurring legal costs of over £400,000 to the local ratepayers. 

"The Council will once again defend our policy to preserve this vital green space."

 

Petition

Meanwhile, Councillor Stuart Dickman is asking the people of Salford to get behind a petition to send a clear message to both Peel and the Secretary of Sate, James Brokenshire MP.

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Peel Holdings are once again planning to challenge the Council’s policy on the protection of Broadoak Farm, a vital piece of green space linking to the ‘Worsley Greenway’. This well used, beautiful patch of land acts as a buffer between Worsley, Swinton and Eccles, maintaining the character and unique identity the area. It’s many paths are well trodden by residents, and its hedgerows and shrubbery a wonderful home for local wildlife.

Salford Council has protected this green space under provisions in its local plan, preserving it as green-belt. Peel Holdings, however, wish to use the land to build over 600 luxury homes. Peel have once appealed the Council’s planning decision, been defeated in the courts and twice beaten again at Public Inquiry, at great cost to the Salford tax-payer.

 

https://www.change.org/p/james-brokenshire-mp-secretary-of-state-for-housing-communities-and-local-government-defend-the-worsley-greenway

The petition is countersigned by Councillor Sharmina August and Councillor Jim Cammell.