Christmas event on Chorlton Green

I would like to thank everyone who helped organise the community event on Chorlton Green on Sunday 9th December. The event was organised by the Friends of Chorlton Green Group, and Council officers from ward co-ordination, environment and events teams all assisted, along with Police Community Support Officers and the Community Network. Residents, officers and councillors swept leaves, planted bulbs, made Christmas decorations, sang carols and enjoyed refreshments. The Christmas Tree which was funded by a Council CASH grant lit up the proceedings. Hopefully this will now become another successful annual event in Chorlton.

Speaking Up for Ryebank Fields

Chorlton Labour Councillor Sheila Newman, continues to support local efforts to turn Ryebank Playing Fields into a Village Green.

The campaign to bring Ryebank Fields into community use, and to stop them being developed on, is gathering pace as we near decision time. Most local residents want the authorities to give the scheme the go ahead and to stop any development on this unique piece of land.

Sheila attended the formal inquiry on 26 November and gave evidence in support.

Sheila said:

“Ryebank Fields is a valued green space in Chorlton and we want to keep it that way. It benefits the area to have the space open to the local community. That’s why we’re doing all we can to support the campaign.”

Council Says No to Tesco

Local Councillor Sheila Newman, Labour's Lucy Powell and Chorlton residents celebrated on Thursday, 22 November after the Council’s Planning Committee voted unanimously to reject the planned Tesco Express on Manchester Road.

Labour’s Sheila Newman said:

“I’m absolutely delighted with the decision taken by the council committee. I have been working with local people and local shops to make a strong case against the proposed Tesco and I’m really pleased that the joint efforts of the community have paid off.”

Speaking to the Planning Committee before the vote, Sheila said

“Chorlton has a thriving local economy with a wide variety of independent shops. This is what makes Chorlton such a unique place. A supermarket in this area could jeopardise their viability and that’s why I and so many local people are opposed to this development.”

Over 50 local residents attended a site visit by the Planning Committee to the proposed site. This took place before the meeting, in response to a strong request by Sheila. The Committee received nearly 200 letters of objections from local people, an unprecedented number of objections.