The GMSF is a proposition of mass environmental vandalism, the like of which has never been seen before. It is a 'plan,' (and I use the term loosely) that although taking years to formulate has just not been thought through properly. It will destroy large areas of greenbelt in Stockport in general and in Maple in particular. Marple will be changed for the worse forever and we will never recover from this criminal urbanisation.
The sad irony of this in Stockport is that there are many Brownfield sites that could be used for housing some of these sites have had planning permission granted for years yet no attempt to build upon them has ever been started. Our local councillors could start their resistance by bringing a list of these sites to the Area Committee.
Speaking of local councillors, I have thought now for a long time that the only way to resist this urbanisation in Stockport is for the borough to opt out of the GMSF, nothing has yet been finally agreed so this is a real possibility. I was therefore pleasantly surprised to hear that at the last Full Council Meeting, such an action was proposed as a motion amendment by the Lib Dems, proposed by Cllr Mark Hunter and seconded by Councillor Lisa Smart. The amendment was lost and was voted against by Labour and the Tories combined.
The question is begging, where were Marple's Conservative councillors on this, why didn't you support the motion. Towing the party line again? Putting party before constituents whilst lipserving...."save the greenbelt?