Park sports plans protest (From Prestwich and Whitefield Guide)

Park sports plans protest

2:00pm Wednesday 15th April 2009

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CAMPAIGNING councillors want to stop a £2.3 million sports development they claim would turn “precious” land into a theme park.

Prestwich Liberal Democrats have declared their opposition to a firm’s plan for a sports zone at the St Margaret’s Road entrance to Heaton Park.

They want residents to sign a petition against the idea and to attend a meeting at St Margaret’s Church, St Margaret’s Road, at 7pm on April 27.

In March, the Guide revealed that Goals Soccer Centres wanted to build 13 artificial sports pitches, a 100-space car park, a skate park, climbing wall and a pavilion containing a bar and changing rooms.

The company, which runs 31 five-a-side football centres across the UK, put the plans on show at the park’s farm centre at the end of March.

Holyrood Ward councillor Vic D’Albert, who is leading the campaign, said: “Heaton Park is not a prime development site ready to be turned into a theme park for the North West.

“It’s a precious legacy, our heritage and has to be protected and preserved for future generations.”

Goals Soccer Centres bosses rejected the idea that a sports zone would be bad for the neighbourhood.

A spokesman said: “The land is earmarked for sports and leisure use. While this is a business development, we would provide the football pitches free for local schools.

“We are working with residents and we are, for example, considering changing the position of the skate park, tennis courts and football pitches to reduce noise for neighbours.”

A Manchester City Council spokesman said: “Goals Soccer Centres has not yet made a planning application. Interested parties will be able to take part in a full consultation process once it has.”

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