Residents vow to stage four-week protest over ‘heartbreaking’ loss of wilderness

Residents in Chorlton have vowed to stage a four-week protest over claims of ‘invasive’ survey works taking place on a ‘beloved’ green space – ahead of plans to turn the area into a residential development. Locals around Fairbank Fields reportedly blocked workers from entering the site yesterday morning, following a ‘peaceful protest’ on Friday after contractors turned up with diggers.

Residents claim they are only ‘watching’ and are ‘not actively preventing’ the works but a spokesperson for the developers claimed otherwise.

The field, which belongs to Manchester Metropolitan University (MMU), has been earmarked for 120 new homes but locals are raising concerns over wildlife safety and asbestos apparently buried in the ground.

Katy Isaac, acting as the communications officer for the developers, said: “Several protestors were at the gate [yesterday] morning and when attempts were made by MMU security and E3P to get onto the site to deliver the materials, they were prevented from accessing. This was recorded by body cameras by MMU Security.

“Multiple attempts will be made to access the site, and if this continues to be prevented, further action will be taken.”

The ground surveys are preliminary steps for plans to build a new neighbourhood with developers Step Places and Southway Housing Trust – but no planning application has been submitted to Manchester City Council yet.

But locals see the space as a ‘naturally rewilded’ park, which has been at the centre of the community for almost 30 years.

Jules Gibb, who has lived in the area for 50 years and been a part of the campaign since it began, said: “Some of us have been here nearly thirty years and we’re not going to stop.

“We’re like Medusa, you chop one head off and loads more grow.”

For Jules, the primary concern is the loss of a community space – which has hosted events from apple wassailing to Reclaim the Night walks for women – and the “heartbreaking” loss of wilderness.

“Not on our watch,” she added. “We don’t want to end up leaving nothing for our children.”

Julie Ryan, a local mother who was present at the protest today, told the LDRS she lives within ‘six feet of the landfill area’ which the contractors are planning to drill into and which contains ‘dangerous materials’.

Julie said: “I’m really concerned about my health, about my children, my pets because we actually live here. You ask people questions and they don’t give you any answers.

“We’ll be accused of being Nimbys but this is a public health issue.”

The university has previously recognised the risk of asbestos across the site, noting the ‘material is prevalent throughout the ground in the whole of the site’ and has advised the public since 2020 not to enter the site until further notice.

In a statement, MMU said: “We are happy that the works will be undertaken with every possible care and consideration for the environment and will comply with any relevant guidance and legislation. The relevant authorities are also aware and happy for works to proceed. The same relevant authorities have also confirmed that no licences or permits are required in respect of these works.”

The residents and campaign group have declared their intention to protest every day from 7am to 4pm until the works are due to be completed.