Lib Dems slam council over lack of affordable homes at Coral Mill, Newhey

Milnrow and Newhey Councillor Andy Kelly has slammed the new development at Coral Mill, Newhey as 'unaffordable' and claimed that local people were being 'priced out of renting there.' He has been contacted by angry residents after a three-bed roomed rental property on the site went on the market for a whopping £820 per calendar month or £189 per week.

Andy and Councillor Irene Davidson objected in April to building 69 new homes on the site on the grounds that there was no plans for affordable housing nor any attempt to help sort out out Newhey's parking problems.

He said: "We were never against building homes at the Coral Mill site. After all, something needed to be done as it was an eyesore. I have always said that developing the Coral Mill site presented an opportunity for our village. It is an opportunity we have clearly not taken. Local people have been priced out of renting property. It's clear that the excellent transport links via the Metrolink have sent prices rocketing. Whilst investment in our area is welcome - we shouldn't be in the thrall of developers who, in this case are clearly making a tidy packet from this development without contributing to the betterment of our village."

Councillor Irene Davidson said: "This is a missed opportunity on so many levels. I made a plea to the Planning Committee in April that they should look at forcing the developer to invest money locally to help put an end to resident's parking problems. Parking in Newhey is already a nightmare. Legally, the Council could have enforced what they call a 'Section 106' order. This is additionally money that a council can force a developer to pay to improve infrastructure and alleviate any additional strain on services etc. because of their development. The Council simply failed to enact this despite our pleas to do so. In failing to do so, we have been let down again."

Councillor Kelly said that this simply should not happen again. He said: "The recent consultation on the Greater Manchester Spatial Framework, or put simply plans to concrete over huge parts of our green belt has brought Newhey together. The momentum created by an interactive campaign against 120 houses and industrial space on green belt in Newhey shouldn't be lost. We will be meeting regularly to campaign to improve our area. One of the key issues will be planning. We will force this Council to ensure that any future application enriches our area and the community benefits as a whole."