Richard Baum

Hundreds of local people staged a “Save Heaton Park” rally on Sunday in protest at plans to create a large commercial sports centre on part of the park. It was great to be there and see so many passionate people taking time out to save a treasured local park.

Over 150 local residents were joined by six local Councillors (including me) to make clear their opposition to the proposed Goals Soccer Centre which is planned to be built near the St Margaret’s Road entrance to Heaton Park. The message was clear: Save Heaton Park!

There are plans to build dozens of football and tennis pitches, all of which will be commercially available at a fee for users, on what is now open parkland near to people’s homes in Prestwich.

Cllr Tim Pickstone, the Liberal Democrat Councillor for Holyrood ward, has been helping to lead the protests. He addressed the crowd, and said “More sports facilities are great, but this is in completely the wrong place. The park has been here for the people of north Manchester and Prestwich for over 100 years. It’s open parkland where people can play football, have a picnic, walk the dog or play in the sun. All of this will be lost forever if it is a £40 an hour soccer centre.”

St Margaret’s Road resident Paul Toner, who helped organise Sunday’s rally, said “None of us are opposed to sports facilities, but the impact of this development on the local area would be terrible - parking, traffic, illuminated pitches.”

The scheme will be decided on by Manchester City Council, who own Heaton Park despite it being bordered by Bury land on three sides. I urge local residents to send in letters and emails of objection to Manchester City Council before the deadline for comment on 20th July.

I really do think that this is completely the wrong place for a development like this, and that Manchester City Council should look again for a more suitable location.

Rick