Mirrlees Fields Action Group

Local Elections 2012 - Candidates express their support for MFAG

At Easter, David Gosling wrote to all the candidates in the local elections to be held on May 3rd inviting them to make a statement to our members about their views on the future of the Fields.
The responses received so far can be read here. These comments from people active in local politics is another indication of the strength of support that MFAG has in the community.

Join now or renew your membership

New to Mirrlees Fields Action Group?    Join now and have your say on the future of the Fields. Already a member? We are in the process of renewing our membership list to bring it up the date. You are asked to renew your membership and confirm your details with us.

Ways of contacting us:

• complete
• by email to info@mirrleesfields.org.uk
• by telephone on 0161 612 5234
• by text to 0784 164 7275

We find when we talk to people on the Fields that many of those who use the Fields are not aware of the Action Group or the issues about the ownership of the land. We cannot take for granted that we always be able to walk on the fields - UNLESS we can bring the Fields into some form of public ownership such as a Community Trust.

Please take the opportunity to talk to people you meet on the Fields about the Action Group and why we exist. Encourage them to come to our website and to become members.

The size of our membership list is one of our biggest strengths when negotiating with MAN Diesel. They cannot dismiss us as a minority group when we have the support of so many local residents who want to see the Fields saved for now and future generations.

MAN Diesel's Planning Application Approved

Outline planning approval has been given for the development of up to 203 residential units and a number of move-on employment units on the old factory site. The approval is subject to 22 conditions including a requirement to ensure there is no contamination of neighbouring lands and that flood controls are in place

• The footpath between factory site and Woodsmoor Station will be ‘upgraded’ to a minimum of 3 metres wide, hard-surfaced path, gating to restrict vehicle access, signage, landscaping and lighting. 

• Fred Perry Way, where it crosses the Fields to from the warehouse to Kinross Avenue, will be upgraded to a 2 metre wide loose-surfaced path with signage and parapets where it crosses the stream. 

• Bramhall House is to be restored and re-used in line with the policy to protect archaeological sites. 

The Action Group has asked to be kept fully informed about these developments and to be consulted on the design of the upgraded paths, landscaping and lighting. Our concern is that the upgrading should be appropriate to the character of the  area.

The full report can be found on the Stockport County Planning website. Enter DC046179 in the search box to find the relevant web-pages.

Woodsmoor History Project Underway

Two members of the Group, Sue Bailey and Roger Sim, are gathering peoples’ memories of Woodsmoor and Mirrlees Fields. The aim is to produce a booklet that will go on sale at local shops and libraries.

They’ve already heard some fascinating stories about people playing on the Fields as children, there being a narrow gauge railway in a Woodsmoor garden, and about Tom and Patty Garner at New House Farm with their cow, Margaret!

Sue and Roger would be very pleased to hear from anyone who’d like to talk about what they remember from times gone by. And they would also very much like to gather photographs or other memorabilia (tickets, leaflets, newspaper articles) that could be used in the publication.

We are particularly interested in memories of Mirrlees Fields. Have you walked on the fields for years, or did you play sports on them – for example, golf, tennis, cricket, football, bowls? If so get in touch.

Please phone Sue on 0161 612 5234 for more information.

Discussion with MAN on the Fields' Future

The company has promised that once the planning application has been approved discussions will be re-opened with Action Group and any other interested parties about the future of the green space.

The Group’s preferred option is to set up a community trust that will own and manage the land. The Trust will guarantee the future of the Fields as a public open space.

A Trust would also have the ability to apply for various grants to carry out maintenance and safety work.

Great Moor School

MFAG as a community group is now represented on the Governors of Great Moor School. David Kemp, MFAG's Deputy Chair, is now a school governor. MFAG has worked with the school on educational projects relating to the history of the fields, the wildlife and local democracy.

Can you share your photos of the Fields?

If you are a keen photographer and you are happy to share your photos of the Fields with us we'd like you to get in touch. Selected photos will be posted on the website and for the very best we are planning a calendar for 2013 with each month showing a different aspect of the Fields.

The Action Group is on Facebook

We have started an MFAG group on Facebook. If you are a Facebook user please sign-up to our group. It's another way of staying in touch