Protests as plans for controversial Hough End Leisure centre given green light by council

The plans to extend Hough End Leisure Centre onto Hough End playing fields were approved at a planning committee meeting yesterday (March 17). However, the approval was not straightforward.

The decision was protested by the group ‘Save Hough End Fields’ both prior to and during the meeting which took place at the Manchester Town Hall extension building. The protest outside of the building consisted of the group chanting ‘Save Hough End’ and ‘trees not cars’.

Following the protest on the streets outside the Town Hall extension building, the protesters made their way inside and to the viewing gallery where they made their views known.

Read more:'Save Hough End Fields': Campaigners to protest development of park

The group wish to save the fields from development as, not only are they rich in biodiversity but offer a lot to the community as a place to walk dogs, relax and enjoy.

The plans include the building of two cork-infil 3G pitches, a two-storey extension to the existing leisure centre and the building of 127 parking spaces.

This is no the first protest against the development of Hough End. Back in May 2021, plans were put on hold before being halted in July due to a huge community response. Revised plans were then released in November 2021 and offered a public consultation.

Councillor for Didsbury West, John Leech, was not permitted to speak in the meeting as a councillor but was refused as the development is not on his ward.

He was asked to leave the hall for the duration of discussion on Hough End and was not allowed to vote on the decision to develop due to comments he had previously made in support of saving the playing fields.

Upon being told that John Leech would not be allowed to speak and would have to exit,