Denton and Reddish MP, Andrew Gwynne, and Hazel Grove MP William Wragg, have joined forces, to present a petition to the House of Commons today outlining both constituencies’ opposition to the massive extension of Bredbury Parkway industrial estate.
Andrew and William have raised separate concerns over green belt incursion in the Tame Valley for a number of years, and have now joined forces to oppose the proposed raid on the green belt of the Tame Valley.
The joint online and written petitions attracted a great deal of public support with over 1,500 members of the public pledging their support.
Both MPs also share a mutual concern over HGV traffic in the area and the impact that the proposals would have on an already congested Stockport Road (Denton) and Ashton Road (Bredbury) too.
The petition presented to Parliament today not only opposes the massive extension of Bredbury Parkway industrial estate but also calls on all sides involved, including Stockport Council and the Greater Manchester Combined Authority, to abandon their support of the extension as well as working together in order to prioritise a brownfield first strategy for the Greater Manchester Spatial Framework (GMSF) so that previously developed land can be used again, instead of damaging unspoiled green spaces.
The campaign over Bredbury Parkway industrial estate comes as merely the latest episode in the long running public backlash against the GMSF proposals, which include several major panning developments on large swaths of greenbelt land across Greater Manchester, and many thousands of people signed various petitions and attended rallies across the region.
Following the outcry from both the public and politicians the Combined Authority was sent back to the drawing board to re-draft the Framework, and a revised version is expected to be published in November for further public consultation.
William Wragg MP, for Hazel Grove constituency, said:
“I am pleased to present this petition to Parliament today on behalf of all those residents who oppose the huge expansion of Bredbury Parkway industrial estate and the damage it would do greenbelt land. These voices are added to the thousands and thousands of people in both mine and neighbouring constituencies’, who signed similar petitions against various elements of the GMSF.
“It is clear that people value their countryside and want it protected and that these massive developments in the greenbelt are not welcome. The Combined Authority must listen to this and adopt a brownfield first strategy in any future version of the Framework.”
Andrew Gwynne MP, for Denton and Reddish constituency, said:
“By presenting this petition to Parliament our community is saying no to developers who want to create a large-scale distribution and warehouse park deep into the Tame Valley. It is vital that we protect greenbelt land across the valley and ensure that all possible previously developed sites are brought back into use.
“This petition shows our cross-party opposition to building on greenbelt land in Tameside and Stockport. For my constituency of Denton and Reddish it’s a chance to say no to extra traffic around Denton as well as protecting our cherished greenbelt and river valley for future generations to enjoy.”
The petition is still open to sign online at - https://www.williamwragg.org.uk/campaigns/protect-our-greenbelt-0