Residents have slammed plans to build a 'huge' 20ft shipping container in a south Manchester park.
The shed in Beech Road Park, Chorlton, will store tools and equipment and will be used by rangers, volunteers and associated groups. But neighbours believe its size will 'ruin' the beauty spot.
Community group The Friends of Beech Road Park and local stakeholders came up with the plans for the container, after obtaining funding and permission from Manchester City Council. The shed will also be connected to electric and water mains - which will provide water for gardening and providing drinks for volunteers - at an estimated cost of £6,800.
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But some residents have hit out at the scheme and claim it will 'ruin' the park's aesthetics. One man, Mr Bimal, told the Manchester Evening News : "The size and the cost of the huge 20ft container aren't justified for storing a few gardening tools, we think that far cheaper and more practical alternatives exist.
"It's also going to have power and a water supply at great expense. If they need a container for small-scale gardening it should be in a discreet location, and if they put water in it then it should be accessible to the entire public as a better use of council money."
Over 250 people had signed a petition in protest but Manchester Council has approved the plans. A council spokesperson said they "listened carefully to all the feedback received and have adjusted the original plans" by including a "living wall to mitigate the aesthetics of the structure."
And Chorlton councillors Eve Holt, Mat Benham, and John Hacking supported the container. They said they " appreciate that the park is used for multiple purposes and people hold some different views on priorities" but that the container will help in the park's "ongoing care and maintenance".
But Mr Bimal, who did not want to give his full name, said: "It will dwarf what is already a very small park. A friend of mine measured up her cottage in one of the side streets here, and it’s as long as her house and three-quarters as wide as it."
Other locals, including community members of Facebook group 'Dog Walkers in Beech Road Park', alleged they feel misled and ignored by Friends of Beech Road Park.
Richard Fountain, a member of Dog Walkers, said he felt the Friends 'excluded the rest of the community from the decisions'.
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"This was news to us and nearly every other park user apart from the Friends. To say that it was unpopular as an idea would be an understatement," he said.
"We voiced our objection to the container with the Friends, and despite multiple offers to meet and compromise, they continue to be inflexible to opposition."
Jenny Slee, co-chairman of the Friends, said she had also not been made aware of the plan and opposed it from within the group. She said: "The consultation was deeply flawed, and there's continued misinformation as to what the container will be used for.
"There are also further concerns the shed will obstruct views for elderly residents of Ivy Court Nursing Home."
But a Manchester council spokesperson said the nursing home was consulted over the plans and that they 'listened carefully' to all responses.
"Following a successful bid from the Friends of Beech Road Park group to our Parks in Partnership fund for storage to be located within the park, we consulted with park users and groups in the local area including the residents at Ivy Court Nursing Home," they said.
"Based on the evaluation of the location and size of the storage required, we are working with residents and the friends' groups to facilitate it being installed.
"We listened carefully to all the feedback received and have adjusted the original plans which now includes the addition of a living wall to mitigate the aesthetics of the structure and to ensure that it not impact upon the local area's charm and distinctive appeal."
In a joint statement, the Chorlton councillors said: "There has been a previous consultation on the proposals for the park and as a result of some more recent resident concerns Council officers carried out further consultation with park users and residents.
"As local councillors we are delighted that we've been able to secure significant investment into Beech Road park over the last year and we will continue to work with local people and community groups to deliver improvements to the site.
"We appreciate that the park is used for multiple purposes and people hold some different views on priorities. Whilst the instillation of an 18 foot container has not been welcomed by all, this will help the local Friends group volunteers to provide the ongoing care and maintenance to this much loved and well used green space."
The Friends of Beech Road Park Group declined to comment.
Mixed reactions in response to petition
People responded to the petition on Facebook with mixed opinions. One person said: "Seems fair enough really. It's a functional local park, not a natural beauty spot."
One user added: "I know people who have volunteered to make the park look as nice as possible, the idea of there being somewhere they can make themselves a brew when doing so sounds like a cracking idea!"
But another person said: "That would be £6,000 that could be spent on improving the park and making things better for park users like improving the kids' play area. Just seems a bit wasteful when so many other things need doing."
Local resident Louisa said: "The park is important to us and we are keen to keep it lovely, but the Friends continue to ruin the park with decorative pebbles, welcome walls, and tiled benches. When they have left dead turf, abandoned hippo bags, dying plants, and scruffy fences.
"They also put planters in a park that needed watering, creating a need that didn't exist before by building an expensive shed to water them. Council money wasted."
Richard said: "We realise the Friends need storage and are happy to compromise with a smaller unit in a less controversial space, but if the current plans go ahead despite massive opposition, it stands as a monument to the selfishness of the Friends' and the lack of listening by the council."
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