Conservative Councillors, concerned residents and greenbelt campaigners were dealt a massive blow last night as Rochdale's Labour Council voted to pass the Places for Everyone (PFE) report that had come before the meeting of the full Council. The vote served to condemn massive amounts of greenbelt land across the Rochdale Borough and Greater Manchester to inevitable destruction and development.
The night got off to a rocky start for campaigners and members of the public when they were told by Council officials that only ten would be allowed to enter the meeting room, dozens more were told that they would not be given access to the building and would have to wait outside. Fortunately, after much discussion with officers, Conservative Councillors were able to negotiate the admittance of additional members of the public who had come to Number One Riverside specifically for this agenda item.
So important was this item, that the Mayor, who chairs the meeting, took the decision to move the debate up the agenda and ahead of all other business. The Mayor also used his discretionary powers to allow the debate on this item to extend past the formally allotted time, giving all members who wished to speak on the matter ample time.
Conservative Councillors spoke on a wide range of concerns relating to the report including the destruction of the greenbelt: Councillor Ashley Dearnley commented that when the greenbelt is developed is can never be returned.
Councillor Steve Anstee reiterated the fact that figures for local housing need, when compared with available sites, meant that no land in the greenbelt needed to be touched in Rochdale, the demand could be met with a commitment to brownfield development.
Councillor Pat Sullivan spoke about the tireless work of the Greenbelt Action Groups and campaigners across the borough and Greater Manchester, paying tribute to the thousands of people who had been active in campaigning to stop the GMSF and PFE proposals.
Councillor Peter Winkler said that it was a dark day for Rochdale, telling Labour Councillors that they knew the reasons that this plan needed to be rejected and that should have the conscience to do the right thing and the 'bottle' to do so in the face of the Labour party whip. He said that if the plan was approved it marked a 'Democratic Crisis' with residents yet again being ignored as Labour push a steamroller through them and the greenbelt.
Councillor John Taylor spoke at length about the negative impacts that the report would have on the borough, the lack of infrastructure and the unnecessary development which would not deliver the types of homes that Rochdale needs. He said that the plan would just serve to give the green light to develop large, executive homes that would bring buyers from outside the borough without meeting the local housing need. He also raised the concern of increased traffic in already congested roads which were struggling to cope, saying that one officer had already described them as 'over capacity'.
When it came to the vote Conservatives were supported by the Lid Dems and Independents in requesting a named vote. This means that members of the public can see the vote cast by each individual Councillor. Just three Labour Councillors voted against the plan. All in wards affected by the development and who are fearful that the passing of the plan may lead to them losing their seats in the coming elections. however it was clear from the comments and the voting that the Labour group wanted this plan to pass, as one by one the Labour Councillors said how wonderful the plan was and proceeded to give it their approval.
Following the meeting Conservative Councillors spoke to devastated campaigners and together they vowed to continue to fight against both the plan and individual developments. A public enquiry could be the next step for the Greenbelt Action Groups and of course the plan must be approved by all other boroughs, but for now the Rochdale Labour Group have struck a devastating blow to the greenbelt and the environment with a plan that is a slap in the face to thousands of local people.
