Image: Stuart Spray
Save Ryebank Fields
The consultation deadline is the 1st November.
'Done is better than None' - the most important thing is to respond and to be clear in your opposition.
1. Read the stuff on this page
2. Write your own response to go in the 'Free Text' box (can be short)
3. Take part in the Ryebank Chorlton consultation (scroll down to have your say)
Thank you!
Excerpts from the Friends of Ryebank Fields email about the consultation:
For avoidance of all doubt, Ryebank Fields are Greenfield (NOT Brownfield). Manchester Council themselves confirmed this in a letter to us in 2020.
Responding to the consultation
Initial demographic questions - It appears they are attempting to scrape information from these questions to characterise responses in a certain way. It's up to you how you respond. You can leave them blank or choose 'prefer not to say' (what I did).
There are then 4 multiple choice questions and a free text box. We advise responding to all the multiple choice questions, as leaving them blank could be interpreted either way (ie as 'not opposing'). The answers are on a spectrum 'strongly agree' to 'strongly disagree'. In general a 'strongly disagree' is likely to reflect the views of most of us. They are:
-
The proposals are an improvement on the previous scheme
-
The plans for 120 homes at Ryebank represent an inclusive and diverse new community, making it safe for future generations
-
The community green spaces and retention of the majority of the woodland, including the Aspen Grove, will deliver a sustainable environment for all to enjoy
-
Overall, I support the design of the new neighbourhood included in the proposals
As to the Free Text box - here's your chance to say what you really think! Our planning consultants advised us not to provide information, or to feed back on the detail of the plans. This only plays to their narrative and gives them opportunities to deflect from the real question of should the Fields be built on at all. If you are opposed to development whatever form it took, that's all you really need to say at this point. You may wish to give information to back up why you are opposed in principle, for example:
-
Ryebank Fields are an irreplaceable rewilded space, home to multiple species of flora and fauna and a maturing ecosystem developed over decades and continuing to evolve.
-
They're a significant carbon sink, heat sink (has a cooling effect in Summer), clean air qualities and a flood attenuation 'sponge'. These are sometimes collectively known as 'ecosystem services'.
-
Ryebank Fields are Greenfield, and there are existing Brownfield sites yet to be developed even within the local area, eg 200 homes at Chorlton District centre, 1000s of new homes nearby in Old Trafford and Stretford.
-
The Manchester Core Strategy and associated Open Spaces audit highlighted a significant 'nature deficit' in South Manchester and the need to preserve natural and semi natural green spaces.
-
The draft Manchester Local Plan consultation in 2020 received an overwhelming response that Ryebank Fields should be protected as a Local Green Space. We attach the updated version of our LGS submission as it's packed with information about why the Fields are so valuable to the Local Community.
-
This is just a selection - if you'd like more detail or there are other points you'd like to raise but unsure of evidence base, do contact us by email and we'll do our best to help.
My response to the consultation:
As a Manchester City Council resident, I am strongly opposed to this development. This is for many reasons but primarily because it goes against the city’s Biodiversity Strategy.
As declared by Manchester City Council in July 2019, we are facing a Climate Emergency. In March 2022, the Greater Manchester Combined Authority declared a Biodiversity emergency, and signed the Edinburgh Declaration, a statement of intent calling for action to reverse biodiversity loss, and making a case for the role of cities and local authorities in delivering that change. Protecting existing wild spaces will play a significant part in the response to these intertwined and urgent crises.
Ryebank Fields are a significant carbon sink, heat sink and a flood attenuation 'sponge'. The site is an irreplaceable rewilded space, home to multiple species of flora and fauna and a maturing ecosystem developed over decades and continuing to evolve.
The Manchester Core Strategy and associated Open Spaces audit highlighted a significant 'nature deficit' in South Manchester and the need to preserve natural and semi natural green spaces.
On top of this, Ryebank Fields are GREENFIELD and there are existing Brownfield sites yet to be developed even within the local area.
There are many other reasons why Ryebank Fields should not be built on. One of these is the fields value as a wild green space for the community to enjoy and learn from, especially children. There is so little wild space like this in Manchester. At this crucial time, we need to be fostering a love of nature, not decimating it.
This is a pre-planning consultation.
It is likely that proposals will be submitted to Manchester City Council in early 2025.
Save Ryebank Fields website
Friends of Ryebank Fields on Facebook
Email ryebankfieldsfriends@gmail.com to be put on the mailing list