Save Hough End playing fields
Follow the story of how residents in Whalley Range are fighting development plans for playing fields
Manchester City Council announced in May last year that it would pause plans to redevelop Hough End Fields into a major sporting complex.
The deadline for public consultation, during which time residents share their views on proposals, was originally 1 June. This has now been extended to consult further with the community.
The decision followed hundreds of objections from local residents and a 2,000-strong petition.
The surprise announcement was made at a consultation event and followed a letter sent by Save Hough End Fields to the council on calling for the consultation to be extended by at least six weeks.
Pauline Lozoya Hocking, one of the lead campaigners from Save Hough End Fields, said: "It’s about time the council finally admitted they underestimated the strength of feeling in the community against this development.
'We call on them to use the pause to properly consult all users of the fields on what we'd like to happen in our shared open green space'
Chorlton Park Councillor Joanna Midgley said: “We’re quite keen to see investment, and I think some of the plans are really good, but we need to listen to what the residents think.
“That is why the consultation has been extended. Residents have very mixed views about the development: there will be positives and negative responses.
“We just want to see a fair outcome.”
The plan would see the construction of 5G football pitches which will be available only to paying customers, as well as baseball and softball pitches the council says will be open for public use.
The existing layout of the playing fields would also be reconfigured to make way for the proposed pitches.
Currently there are 14 senior grass football pitches, two Gaelic football pitches and two rugby pitches.
The plans also include a viewing gallery, a cafe, and an extension of the existing gym, fitness suite, and an additional 125-space overflow car park also features in the proposal.
The group Save Hough End Field’s Facebook page has amassed near 1,000 members. 390 objections had been submitted along with 2190 signatures on a petition.
A leaflet sent out to residents states: “The land was given to the people of Manchester to be enjoyed freely.
“The new plans include fencing off the fields, preventing public access.
'Many trees would be cut down and significant green space and vegetation lost'
Residents also point out that the fields were originally bequeathed to the people of Manchester by Lord Egerton under the convent “not to use or permit to bemused this area for any purpose other than as an open and recreational ground for the free use of the public.
The Liberal Democrats have also been part of the campaign. They say that Labour have failed to deliver on their environmental comitments.
Councillor Luthar Rahman, who was recently elected to deputy leader of the council, told the MEN: “Following investment, the upgraded facilities would greatly enhance sporting benefits and opportunities in the local area, and it would continue to be a vast public open space for everyone to use with controlled access on a relatively small area of the playing fields.
"We want to deliver the best leisure facilities that we can for the local communities that they serve which is why we also want to reinvest in Hough End leisure centre facilities which are currently not meeting local demand.
“Development plans would ensure facilities can meet the capacity for an increase in visitor numbers and would fit in with our long-term vision for Hough End to become a vibrant seven-day a week sport and leisure facility which would offer something for all local residents."
A joint statement on the development was also issued by councillors Dave Rawson, Joanna Midgley and Mandie Godwin. It states:
"We have been contacted by lots of residents with a variety of comments. There is no single view on the proposals and people have different views on different elements of the scheme.
"Initially we secured an extension to the consultation process to allow more views to be captured.
"It is worth pointing out that these proposals are for an increased offer for sports in the area - which will benefit all and particularly young people. Some of the critics of the scheme do lose sight of this. Manchester has really significant and life-limiting problems with health, levels of childhood obesity and inactivity.
Promoting more access to active lifestyles should be something we are positive about. Since the leisure centre was built it has been hugely popular with a very high percentage of users coming from the Chorlton Park ward and other adjoining wards. It has been a tremendous success and lead to a happier, healthier community across all age groups. We shouldn’t forget that.
"Hough End Playing fields have been sports fields for decades but the quality of the pitches is poor, and together with the closure of the changing rooms many clubs have struggled to use the pitches. Cancellation of games has been a real issue and children's’ football in particular has been badly affected.
The purpose of the 3G pitches is to provide additional capacity for clubs and this will really benefit children as these pitches will be available all year round and are capable of dividing into smaller pitches for children, and this means that they get the opportunity to develop ball skills, something much more difficult to achieve on larger pitches
"That being said, we fully appreciate that there are environmental impacts to any increase in the sport offer on the site and those need to be balanced against the positive impact of the development. From the outset we have said that there are lots of positives in the proposals but also things which on the face of it do cause us concern or that we would need further reassurance on.
We have, and have expressed to officers, real concerns about the impact on local road use from increased use of the site and the impact on Whitchurch Road and Princess Road and Mauldeth Road West
'We are all very committed to the improvement of the environment locally, and have made it a real focus of our work and that will not change'
"Over the last few weeks we have met the project team and attended all consultations with residents and have heard a range of views. Some people are in favour of the whole scheme, some are entirely against. Other have more nuanced views where they support some aspects but are against others.
"It is now the time for the project team to put together that information and analyse the responses they have received. At the request of us as Councillors, the process has been paused to allow an adequate time to reflect on the feedback given. The planning process has been put on hold to allow for this to be done and no timescale has been put on this. Once we have this information, we will be making our considered view on the proposals known to the project team and to residents. We need to see what responses have been received before doing so.
"We remain confident and hopeful that there can be a reflection of the feedback given during the consultation and that a proposal can be brought forward where there is an increase in the youth sporting offer on the site whilst protecting and mitigating the environmental impact. We are glad that plans are paused whilst this proper consideration is given to feedback.
"Whilst we go through this process we are all available to talk to residents throughout and we hope that everyone engages in good faith. Everyone- those who support the whole scheme, those who oppose it all and everything in between- want the best for our local area but people have different views on what that best looks like."
Community unites in anger
Opposition to development of 5G sports pitches
Football team using pitches says plans could lead to financial difficulties
Hough End playing fields is enjoyed by much of Chorlton, Withington and other communities in south Manchester.
From bird watchers to aspiring footballers many gather to enjoy the ancient woodlands and the 28 football pitches on offer at Hough End.
However, residents have cried foul after their beloved fields came under threat from a council development plan.
Save Hough End Playing Fields, a community group against the development, continues to rally against the proposed council plans to redevelop the site
The council plans were for the erection of a two-storey building which would form sports field changing rooms, café facilities, training rooms, 3G football turf pitches and associated floodlighting.
Following the demolition of an existing building on site, a gym space is also planned. The development will also see new fencing together with the development of a new car park and overflow car park.
These plans were advertised in April but then withdrawn in July.
Nevertheless, the Save Hough End campaigners expect new plans to be submitted before December.
Alexandria told NQ about the group and its opposition to the development.
“Someone made a Facebook group because there was no awareness of what was happening,” she said.
“Originally only 53 letters were sent out to the local community. Obviously, this space is used by a lot more people than that. Even houses in the immediate vicinity, across the road from the fields weren’t informed.
'We all really love these fields and really care about these fields and disagree with what the council is doing'
In a 2018/19 playing pitch strategy report, the council used FA affiliation data to determine whether there was enough 3G football pitch provision in the city.
The data suggests there are currently 902 teams: based on the FA training ratio model this equates to a requirement for 24 full-sized 3G football pitches, meaning a shortfall of 3G football pitches.
Alexandria said council plans to build football pitches on the site contradicts its own strategy reports.
She said: “We’re campaigning against the 3G pitches because by Manchester city council's own playing pitch strategy reports in recent years there’s too many 3G pitches anyway.
"Only in 2019 there was planning permission refused on Platt Fields park for 3G pitches because they said there was adequate or too much provision of 3G pitches in the local area.”
Dawn Court United are a football club founded by a mixture of friends from university and members of the local community.
The team play home fixtures at Hough End are opposed to the development.
Chairman and current captain United, Sam Chatterton says of the plans: “I believe that if this proposed development was to go ahead, it would hinder our growth as a football club.
"We established Dawn Court United as a club that all our friends can be involved in, come down on a Sunday and kick a ball around.
"The costs of running a club are fairly high and these proposed developments would put strain on a team that’s funded by the players.
“The demographic around Hough End is students or working class people. Therefore, it makes little sense to me as to why they’d be wanting to market more expensive and scare pitches to lower income individuals.”
When considering the development of the 3G pitches, cost of hire and availability of usage are significant concerns for campaigners compared with what the council currently charges.
NQ investigated the cost to hire an 11-a-side 3G pitch at Manchester Academy and Platt Lane Sports Complex as well as the 7-a-side cost at Manchester Central Powerleague.
Manchester Academy has an hourly rate of £60 for its 3G pitch which would mean a two-hour booking if used for a 90 minute match by a local club.
An 11-a-side floodlit pitch at Platt Lane Sports Complex costs £77 at peak times, although the length of booking is not specified on the website.
Powerleague Central in Ardwick charge £75 per hour for a 7-a-side 3G pitch.
All charges are significantly higher than the cost of hiring grass pitches at Hough End Playing Fields which is the concern for local clubs such as Dawn Court United.
In addition to this, Save Hough End Playing Fields are concerned about the reduction of grass pitches with the creation of 3G pitches on the site.
They argue that free use of local playing fields for the community could be impacted, in addition to local clubs being priced out.
Alexandria comments: “Plans from last year would see the provision of two 3G pitches reduce the overall provision of playing pitches down from 28 to 14. That’s how much space they’d take up.”
A substantial decline in the number of available pitches.
Save Hough End Playing Fields are also concerned that wildlife on the site may be endangered with the development.
The site is home to an ancient woodland with tress over 300 years old. Birds such as kingfishers and other animals inhabit Hough End.
However, in the council's most recent wildlife survey they concluded that the site was not a site of interest.
Save Hough End Playing Fields argue this is inaccurate because the survey was taken in March last year, a time when much of the wildlife is hibernating or not very active.
Campaigners for Hough End are now a dedicated community group who organise family-friendly events every other Sunday.
For Halloween the group organised a Pumpkin Walk which included a short self-guided walk from the leisure centre up to Mauldeth Road decorated with pumpkins and skeletons.
Campaigners include Councillor Jon Leech, pictured here
Dog owners are furious about new rules which could see them banned from walking their pets on playing fields in Whalley Range.
New dog control orders would limit dog walking on Hough End playing fields as well as at other sites across the city.
Current rules state that dogs are allowed on playing fields when not in use for football or rugby, or other sports.
But this could change to a complete ban on dog walking on playing fields under what is known as a public spaces protection order.
Residents have had an opportunity to voice their opinions through a consultation - which is now closed - but it's claimed many were unaware of the changes.
Peter Lythgoe, 63, and his rescue collie Archie are regulars at Hough End fields and are worried that they will not be able to enjoy their walks there for much longer.
Peter said: “The first place I took him when I brought him back from the rescue centre was Hough End field, before I even brought him through the front door.
“I’ve been walking my dogs there my whole life and I’m 63”
Peter has been raising awareness about the consultation on the Save Hough End Fields Facebook page, which was set up to protest against expansion of the leisure centre.
“There are two fields currently,” said Peter. “There are two Gaelic football pitches on the north field which take up most of the space except for a strip.
“There are 22 football pitches near the leisure centre which take up about 60% of the area.
'The thing is, for the last three years the council has banned dogs walking through cemeteries even on leads, but they are lifting that and bringing in the Hough End bans'
“The problem with Hough End is that they said that they weren’t going to change the rules on dog walking, but after the elections they introduce this consultation.”
“When I’m walking my dog I let other dog walkers know and no one that I have spoken to has any idea until I tell them.
“The questionnaire does have a box to express your opinion but I’m only one person.
https://t.co/gVSXkbaBZK
— SaveHoughEndFields (@SaveHoughEnd) June 30, 2022
Good read in the @northernquota about the potential @ManCityCouncil dog ban across parks in Manchester including Hough End Fields. Well done to @pjlythgoe & Archie the collie for bringing attention to an issue few will have known about. #savehoughendfields
"I think it’s another example of the council trying to sneak one through by hiding this questionnaire but I ended up finding it.”
The consultation ran until 17 June. The orders affect a total of 98 sites across Manchester, from Alexandra park in Whalley Range to Wythenshawe park and affects everything from children's play areas to cricket pitches and tennis courts.
Peter said: “I will find out when the signs that say what the rules are have changed, like last time.
“Most people have already done this and will think that they have permission to walk their dogs around Hough Field.”
Manchester city council has been contacted for a comment.
Hough End is very popular with dog walkers Image: Peter Lythgoe
Hough End is very popular with dog walkers Image: Peter Lythgoe
Hough End is home to football and rugby matches, as well as Gaelic football
Hough End is home to football and rugby matches, as well as Gaelic football
In just under two weeks, Manchester councillors will decide whether to approve the £12m budget for the “Hough End Masterplan”.
Campaigners say there is still a chance to stop the council ripping up five acres of grass and trees and replacing them with plastic turf and concrete.
They are calling on residents to do three things to help:
Email all 96 Manchester councillors and tell them to vote against the budget
Email the project funders and call on them to withdraw their support
Sign up for the demo outside the Town Hall extension at 9am on Wednesday 13 July
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