Stop the Sell-Off in Marie Louise Gardens!

12.00.00am UTC (GMT +0000) Tue 3rd Apr 2007

Residents, Councillor Neil Trafford & John Leech MP Oppose Marie Louise Gardens Sell-Off

South Manchester Liberal Democrats have joined forces with local residents to oppose the sell-off of land at Marie Louise Gardens for development. Neil Trafford, Lib Dem Councillor for Didsbury West, has raised objections to the sell-off at a meeting of the full Manchester City Council.

He challenged the Labour executive member for Culture and Leisure to honour the covenant that guarantees that the land should remain available to the public. The Labour Councillor refused to make that guarantee. He also refused to guarantee that any money made from the sale of the land would be spent on improving the park itself.

Speaking after the meeting, Councillor Trafford said:

"Marie Louise Gardens is a beautiful and well used park that was gifted to the people of Manchester. The Council should be improving this park, not selling part of it off!".

Local residents are also up in arms over the plans for the well loved West Didsbury park. Ruth Sacarloff (pictured second right) said: "I'm distraught about these plans."

John Leech, Liberal Democrat MP for Manchester Withington, has also objected to the plans, and spoke out against them at a recent meeting of the Planning Committee in the Town Hall, as did another Lib Dem Councillor; Mark Clayton of Didsbury West.

John Leech commented: "Overdevelopment is one of the biggest threats facing us in South Manchester. We must fight to retain every part of the green space that makes our area so pleasant to live in."

ENDS

Notes to Editors:

Councillor Trafford asked the following question to the Executive Member for Culture and Leisure:

"Marie-Louise Gardens was given to Withington District Council by Mrs Silkenstadt in memory of her daughter Marie-Louise. An agreed covenant guaranteed that the land would remain available to the public as part of the gardens.

Will the Executive Member for Culture and Leisure guarantee that he will honour this covenant and rule out the sale of part of Marie Louise Gardens for development?"