Dozens rally to Newhey green belt cause

Dozens of Newhey and Ogden residents hit the streets on Saturday to flyer the villages to promote their public meeting to save the local green belt. Over 2,000 leaflets and posters were handed out as concerned residents rallied to promote the meeting dubbed by local Lib Dem leader Andy Kelly 'Last Chance Saloon for our Villages.' Houses and shops are now displaying their opposition to proposals to build on the local green belt. The Public Meeting will be held at Newhey Lodge on Huddersfield Road this Friday Night (13th January) at 7pm.

The meeting is seen as a last chance for locals to have their say on what some have called the biggest planning decision to affect the area since the Second World War. Residents are opposing plans to build 120 houses in Newhey, 1,400 across the River Beal and almost half a million square metres of commercial space in the area.

Newhey residents are gearing up for a frantic last week of campaigning. The deadline for the consultation is midnight on Monday, 16th January. Campaigners are calling on everybody to have their say. Judith Jones from Newhey said: "It was a fantastic effort to get the whole of Newhey delivered in such a small space of time. It's important that we use this last week of campaigning to send a clear message that the green spaces we all hold so dear are not for sale at any price. Posters and banners continue to go up in our villages against these proposals. We simply do not have the infrastructure to cope. It's important however to have your say. Don't leave it to others."

Milnrow and Newhey Councillor Andy Kelly said: "It was a great effort by local people. On Saturday, there was a campaigner on every street with a clear message that we must fight this. Residents were coming out to talk and take posters - some said they wanted to object but were unsure of what to say. That's why we have organised the meeting on Friday night. We want to ensure that everyone with concerns gets a chance to have their say. We'll have our objection post box there for residents and we'll hand deliver every single one before the deadline next week. Sample letters of objection will be available for residents so they have an idea of what to do."

Residents have been advised to arrive early for the meeting.