The plans to extend Hough End Leisure Centre onto Hough End playing fields were approved at a planning committee meeting yesterday (March 17). However, the approval was not straightforward.
The decision was protested by the group ‘Save Hough End Fields’ both prior to and during the meeting which took place at the Manchester Town Hall extension building. The protest outside of the building consisted of the group chanting ‘Save Hough End’ and ‘trees not cars’.
Following the protest on the streets outside the Town Hall extension building, the protesters made their way inside and to the viewing gallery where they made their views known.
Read more: 'Save Hough End Fields': Campaigners to protest development of park
The group wish to save the fields from development as, not only are they rich in biodiversity but offer a lot to the community as a place to walk dogs, relax and enjoy.
The plans include the building of two cork-infil 3G pitches, a two-storey extension to the existing leisure centre and the building of 127 parking spaces.
This is no the first protest against the development of Hough End. Back in May 2021, plans were put on hold before being halted in July due to a huge community response. Revised plans were then released in November 2021 and offered a public consultation.
Councillor for Didsbury West, John Leech, was not permitted to speak in the meeting as a councillor but was refused as the development is not on his ward.
He was asked to leave the hall for the duration of discussion on Hough End and was not allowed to vote on the decision to develop due to comments he had previously made in support of saving the playing fields.
Upon being told that John Leech would not be allowed to speak and would have to exit, the crowd in the gallery hissed and were asked by the chair to show respect.
Ali Abbas, who spoke at the planning meeting to save Hough End Fields, described how the area is a public space with uninterrupted vistas which don’t exist elsewhere in Manchester.
He said: “Hough End fields were given to the people of Manchester by Lord Egerton as an open space and recreation ground for the free use of the public and people except their council to honour that. One thing is clear: This planning application has no social licence. Over 1,000 have objected and more than 3,200 have signed our petition calling on the plans to be withdrawn.
"Some may argue that the impact of a development like this is negligible, but every extra gram of carbon will increase the likelihood of climate breakdown and every extra microgram of nitrogen dioxide will interfere with a newborn's development, worsen a child's asthma, or increase the risk of their grandparents dying prematurely.
"Replacing grass and trees with plastic turf and concrete is bad news for wildlife, bad news for the climate and bad news for local residents who'd have to suffer more noise, more traffic and more toxic air pollution. We have to protect green space because once it's gone, it's gone."
Following Ali Abbas’ statement, the crowd in the gallery clapped and lifted up their ‘save Hough End Fields’ posters.
After Mr. Abbas’ statement, Louise Harding, the Hough End project lead for Manchester council, spoke about how this application to develop the fields is "responding to how people want to play the game now and in the future", making sure it "remains relevant" and that “standing still at the Hough End site is not a sensible option.”
Joanna Midgley speaking on behalf of all of the Chorlton Park councillors, summed up by saying: "We see this as a great investment in our community and our people. It will bring benefits for all, improve health and fitness and sustain Hough End Playing Fields and the Leisure Centre into the future."
The decision then went to a vote and the councillors present voted in favour of the expansion and development of Hough End leisure centre. Once passed, the protesters in the gallery began chanting ‘shame on you’.
A statement released following the decision by Councillor Rabnawaz Akbar, executive member for neighbourhoods said: "Through this process we have listened to what people have to say to ensure that we protected open green space at the same time as allowing development of the fields to enhance community use in the long term.
“There has been a strong interest in our plans, which we welcomed, and we took on board all those views as we brought forward the right plan to future proof Hough End in the long-term. We believe we have the right balance taking into consideration resident's views while investing in the much- needed and improved facilities.
“Our improvements will benefit the communities that currently use Hough End and allow more people to access leisure facilities, participate in sport as well as creating sustainable, high-quality playing fields and open spaces offering sport and leisure activities to promote people’s health and wellbeing.
“Sustainability is at the heart of the project, and we have designed all the improvements to fit in with the council's drive to cut carbon emissions. We are placing nature-based solutions at the forefront of the design approach.
“The 3G pitches will be the first natural infill solution that will be brought forward by the Football Association via the Football Foundations Framework nationally. And we have reduced the footprint of the overall development to limit the impact on the wider green space."
Read more on Hough End: ' It’s totally irresponsible to do this’: Residents push back over Hough End Fields plans
