Marie Louise Gardens Sell-off Halted

3.02.00pm GMT Fri 30th Nov 2007

Marie Louise Gardens Are Saved - John Leech MP and Local Lib Dem Councillors Celebrate!

Manchester Liberal Democrats are rejoicing at today's news that Labour's plans to sell-off for development part of the land at Marie Louise Gardens in West Didsbury have been overturned. The decision follows a massive community campaign in South Manchester against the proposals.

West Didsbury Councillor Graham Shaw, who spoke out against the proposed sell-off at full Council, said:

"This is fantastic news for the people of Didsbury. These gardens were bequeathed to the people of Manchester, not to a profit-hungry Council who had no right to sell this land. Labour tried to gag me when I spoke against their proposed land sale at the last Council meeting. But the will of local residents in Didsbury has prevailed in the end!"

Manchester Withington MP John Leech spoke in Parliament against the plans, and tabled a Parliamentary Early Day Motion calling on the Council to rethink its sell-off plans. He said:

"This U-turn has been forced on Labour by the strength of feeling of people in Didsbury. Not a single Labour MP supported my motion to oppose plans to sell off part of the Gardens."

"I pay tribute to the 6,000 people who signed a petition opposing the sell-off, to the West Didsbury Residents Association, and to the three Didsbury West Lib Dem Councillors who have all worked so hard to save Marie Louise Gardens."

John Leech MP concluded:

"I'm calling for more investment in Marie Louise Gardens, to bring it back to its former splendour. This park is a wonderful oasis for residents in Didsbury and South Manchester."

End

Motion to Council on 10th October 2007 - Marie Louise Gardens:

"This Council notes that when Marie Louise Gardens was given to local people by Josephine Silkenstadt in memory of her daughter who died young, a covenant was agreed which stated that the land should not "be used for any other purpose than as a public park or recreation ground".

"This Council further notes that a petition of more than 6000 names has been submitted by West Didsbury Residents' Association to the Lord Mayor calling on the Council to rule out selling any land at Marie Louise Gardens for development."

"This Council therefore calls upon the Chief Executive to bring a report to the Executive ruling out the sale of any land at the Gardens and committing the Council to retaining all the land owned by the Council at the Gardens for recreational use."

This motion was supported by Manchester's opposition Liberal Democrat Councillors including Councillor Graham Shaw (proposer - Lib Dem Environment Spokesperson & Local West Didsbury Councillor).

But at the meeting, in an abuse of their majority, Labour forced the motion to be withdrawn before the debate was completed.