More Manchester Green Space Gets the Chop

12.00.00am GMT Mon 3rd Dec 2007

Manchester's London Road, near Piccadilly Station, where trees and green space will be lost to development

Labour Councillors and their Town Hall bosses have agreed to sell off yet more green space in the City Centre. Council-owned land at London Road, opposite the new Macdonald Hotel, is set to be sold off to developers, despite opposition from City Centre Councillor Marc Ramsbottom.

"The Council talk about wanting Manchester to be a green city, but time and time again they show themselves to be in favour of selling off vital green space" said city centre Lib Dem Cllr Marc Ramsbottom. "There are plenty of other derelict sites that are crying out for development in our city" he added. "These should the Council's priority for development".

The large grassed area, which has a large number of mature trees as well as a cycle lane, will be developed alongside adjacent land owned by the University of Manchester.

GUARANTEES

Lib Dems have written to Council bosses seeking guarantees that any future development on the site will include a large amount of green space, including replacement trees for those that are to be lost when development takes place.

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