Frustrated campaigners shouted 'shame on you' as controversial plans to transform popular playing fields were handed a multi-million pound boost. Manchester city council gave the green light to a budget of £11.9m for the controversial development at Hough Lane fields in a fiery meeting today (July 13).
Despite more than 600 residents emailing councillors asking them to reject the budget because of ‘negative impacts on climate change and the environment’, and a petition with over 3,300 signatures asking to 'save Hough End Fields', the budget increase was approved. This comes after earlier protests back in March when the controversial plans were given the green light with residents suggesting that they contradict Manchester council's net zero carbon ambitions by tarmacking over grass and encouraging car use.
Town hall bosses recommended a capital budget increase of £11.9m, more than half of which would be funded by borrowing, at a meeting on June 1. Councillors were then asked to approve the extra funding at a meeting today.
