Trafford
Council Planning Committee gave planning permission for 2 blocks of flats on
Pomona Island on Thursday evening (12th November).
The site has not been in use for decades. In that time it has evolved
into a rare and mostly undisturbed rich habitat for wildlife, including rare
species.
Opponents
of the plan want more imaginative use of the space than another spate of the same overpriced blocks of flats that have sprung up in the Manchester area.
They are also deeply concerned by the ecological impact of development.
The land
is owned by Peel holdings and is probably most well-known to Mancunians who
pass it on the tram route, alongside the Manchester ship canal on the border of
3 boroughs, Manchester, Trafford and Salford.
Although there has been a campaign group against building, the likelihood of
lots of locals organising to protect the site is hampered by there not being
many locals around in the first place. Across the water in Salford Quays there
are some abodes of a similar demographic to those planned, often fairly
transitory inhabitants not too likely to get involved with local activism.
Also, being on the border of boroughs (or wards for that matter) can often make
the geographical politics and identity of a location somewhat opaque
Pomona Island was
very attractive, even to non-ecologists. But plans to build will have been
bubbling under for a long time and a few years ago a large amount of vegetation
was cleared, making it look less attractive. Funny that.
The plan for the towers had been knocked back once
for being below standard, but the development firm, Rowlinsons, had returned
with some improvements, though they still look completely bland and identikit.
A key theme at the hearing was that of councillors clearly being not very happy
or impressed with the plans (though many were flat ignorant of the ecological
importance of what is officially designated as a brownfield site). Still, most
of those who spoke were minded to approve the plans, not least through fear of
being taken to court if they weren't. The option to kickback the plan for
improvements and consideration for environment didn't seem to be an option
for them.
The council had asked Peel Holdings for a masterplan of their overall vision
for the whole area. Peel didn't bother, but disrespecting the council turned
out to be no great problem. A further disappointment that turned out not to
matter was the total lack of affordable or social housing in the plan,
despite the £10m bung from public funds.
The underlying message from the committee was one of "We don't like
it, but we'll bend over anyhow, what can we really do?" (they are only
elected representatives after all)
Trafford Council have sent a signal that banality, disregard for environment,
lack of co-operation or clear strategy are all fine really. One
might wonder if they have the imagination to sense this.
It's an object lesson in how corporations trump people and planet time again
via stultified and cowardly politics, and why so many have lost faith in that
political system.
It is to be hoped that if/when future plans are submitted, the
council won’t allow themselves to be a case study in "fool me once, shame
on you. Fool me twice, shame on me".
Notable exceptions in opposition to the plans
were Labour members Delores O'Sullivan and David Acton (who is not on the
committee).
It's not too late for future development to be more eco-friendly and for
Trafford Council to find some spine. It would be great for the area to be
utilised as much needed urban park space, possibly in concert with an "Eden of The North" vision in contrast to Osborne's dubious
Northern Poorhouse, er... Powerhouse.
For those who deem such ideas unrealistic, a realistic compromise would be
housing that is in harmony with habitat and wildlife as well as social goals of
affordable housing and employment. But so far it's just another instance of
death by a thousand cuts for the ecology, including evictions of rare schedule
1 bird species, the Little Ringed Plover and Kingfisher not to mention, Sand
Martin, Jacksnipe, Pipistrelle Bat, Daubenton’s Bat, Water Vole, Cormorant and
many other species, all found to have been happily inhabiting the site.
Rowlinsons could easily have earned brownie points and added green roofs to
their designs but alas no and so another eco opportunity lost.
Urban green space is vital, yet almost every individual development can be
legally / politically excused on it's own merits, especially in the light of
housing and employment difficulties. However, the collective effect is
calamitous. There is more to ecology than rainforests, Polar Bears and the
contents of a David Attenborough documentary. It is the very life that
surrounds us wherever we are, and it is being systemically destroyed for profit
with scant regard for consequence.
Such awareness, and the necessary vision for 21st Century sustainability, elude
too many politicians, stuck in the last generation, and too many of the current
generation of capitalists.
Steve Durrant
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