Protect Henry's green space plea

9:00am Thursday 7th August 2008

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RESIDENTS are furious that the council is planning to sell off a green haven in Altrincham town centre.

They claim the attractive plot, at the corner of Barrington Road and Stamford Street, should be protected because it was a gift to the people of Altrincham.

But Trafford says it has the right to sell the land, which is earmarked for a 21-space car park for an adjacent office block, Spring Bank House.

A plaque on the land is inscribed: "This open space was a gift to the people of Altrincham by Henry Shaw in memory of his mother, Mrs Martha Lydiatt Shaw, 18th Janaury 1933."

Resident Brian Newhall said: "No way has Trafford council the right to sell this land. It belongs to all of us - in my view Trafford is breaking the rules by not keeping to the wishes of Henry Shaw.

"Altrincham is very short of open space and we don't need any more ugly car parks."

Another resident said: "Our small patches of green space must be protected."

But executive councillor Mike Cornes said: "“Only part of this site was gifted to the council in 1933. The council has powers to dispose of this land under Section 123 of Local Government Act 1972, free from any trusts.

“The council is considering the sale of this site to an adjacent owner and if a sale proceeds, the memorial tablet will be retained on site, although possibly repositioned."

Residents can send in their comments on the scheme to the director of legal and democratic services, Trafford Town Hall, Talbot Road, Stretford, M32 0TH by August 28.

* Do you know who Henry Shaw was? If so send details to cgriffin@messengergrp.co.uk