Chapter 12 - Open Space and Recreation

Introduction

12.1 The availability of open space and recreation facilities is important to the quality of life and physical well being of people and can, by adding to the attractiveness of the Borough, encourage potential investors and thereby help stimulate urban regeneration.

12.2 Trafford has a proud sporting heritage, particularly in the fields of football, cricket and athletics. It can boast a broad selection of indoor and outdoor recreation and leisure facilities ranging from those that cater purely for local needs up to and including those, like Sale Water Park and the historically significant Dunham Hall and Park, that attract to the Borough large numbers of visitors from a wide geographical area.

12.3 The residents of the Borough are an active population. Sports participation rates among them are relatively high. A wide variety of sporting activities are pursued. The Council is keen to raise and sustain an awareness of the health and other benefits of leisure pursuits amongst all age of the local population.

12.4 Over the Plan period, the total population of the Borough is expected to show modest growth and though the composition of that population is expected to change (the population of the Borough is gradually “ageing”), the overall level of sporting activity demand is not expected to diminish to any significant degree.

12.5 Overall the Borough is reasonably well provided with open space and recreation facilities to meet these demands. The amount and particularly the quality of provision, however, does vary area by area across the Borough. Opportunities to remedy the deficiencies do exist. However, inevitably for an urban metropolitan area, suitable and convenient development opportunities are not always available in the areas where they are most needed. As an urban metropolitan area, the provision of recreation facilities has to compete with many other types of commercial and community development for the limited amount of open, unused or under-used land that comes “on the market”.

12.6 Whilst the countryside areas of the Borough can and do have a role to play in meeting some of the formal and informal recreation needs of some of the local population, provision of readily accessible facilities within the urban area is essential to conveniently meet the needs of others, particularly for children and older people who do not have access to a car.

General Justification for the Proposals of the Open Space and Recreation Chapter

12.7 The overall strategy for open space and recreation set out in this Chapter is geared towards conserving and adding to the range of leisure assets the Borough possesses to provide greater recreational opportunities for residents and potential visitors and to help improve the quality, appearance and utility of the urban and rural environment.

12.8 The Policies and Proposals therefore, seek to: -

• Protect and improve existing open space and open land running into and through the urban area that is important for recreation, wildlife or simply as informal “green space";
• Provide new or upgraded facilities where open space opportunities and resources allow, to remedy deficiencies in open space and playing field provision;
• Secure a wide range of recreation and leisure facilities to cater for the sportingand informal recreational needs of residents;
• Encourage greater access to and use of the countryside for informal recreation.

12.9 They seek to take full account of Government planning policy guidance and advice and the aims and objectives of the Council's adopted Strategies for the Countryside and Sports Development.

12.10 They also seek to take account of advice published by the National Playing Fields Association and Sport England publications, and, in so far as the provision of sports pitch facilities is concerned, the findings and recommendations of the published Trafford Outdoor Sports Facilities Study.

PART I PLAN POLICIES

Part I Policy OSR1 – Open Space

The Council will seek to protect and provide a variety of open spaces capable of meeting the needs of the Borough's residents for active and informal leisure and to enhance landscape amenity within the built up area. These will include the following: -

i) Parks of Regional Importance

The Council will continue to support Sale Water Park and Dunham Park as major centres for informal recreation, events and nature conservation.

ii) Country Parks and Countryside Informal Recreation Areas

The Council will develop new facilities for recreation in the countryside, particularly for informal recreation.

iii) Town Parks

The Council will continue to develop the Borough's Town Parks as the main parks in urban areas providing a wide range of facilities for sport, children's play, informal recreation and major occasional events such as fairs, concerts and carnivals. The Town Parks are Stamford, Worthington, Hullard, Longford and Davyhulme.

iv) Open Space for Informal Recreation and Children’s Play

The Council will seek to provide open spaces for informal recreation and children's play (with equipped play space) close to all homes in the Borough in accordance with the standards outlined in Proposal OSR3.

v) Outdoor Sports Facilities

The Council will continue to develop facilities for outdoor sports and active recreation in accordance with the standards outlined in Proposal OSR4.

vi) Other Open Space

The Council will seek to ensure a range of other open spaces including allotments, golf courses and incidental open space such as landscaping around buildings that contribute to the attractiveness of the Borough and provide for recreation.

Part I Policy OSR2 – Major Leisure Developments

The Council will promote the further development of major recreation, leisure, sport and tourism facilities by public and private means subject to the other Policies and Proposals of this Plan.

PART II PLAN PROPOSALS

Part II Proposal OSR3 – Standards for Informal Recreation and Children’s Play Space Provision

To help ensure the availability of a satisfactory range, quality and distribution of informal open space and children’s play (with equipped play space) across the Borough as a whole. The Council will seek to achieve the provision of a minimum of 0.8 hectares (2.0 acres) of land suitable for this purpose per 1,000 population.

In the Old Trafford area of the Borough (east of the former Cornbrook to Chorlton railway), the Council will seek to achieve the provision of a minimum of 1.2 hectares (3.0 acres) of land per 1,000 population for this purpose.

In seeking to provide children’s informal and equipped play space areas, accessible and appropriate to the needs of all age groups of children, the following three-tiered structure of provision will be used to guide provision: -

• LAPs (Local Areas for Play)
• LEAPs (Local Equipped Areas for Play)
• NEAPs (Neighbourhood Equipped Areas for Play)

Justification

1. It is the Council’s long-term aim that all children in the Borough should have reasonable access to different types of play spaces for recreational purposes. Currently provision in the Borough as a whole falls below these standards. The Council, therefore, will seek to maintain provision where adequate and add to provision, where practicable, in areas judged to be deficient by these standards.

2. The informal recreation and children’s play space standard is based on a detailed assessment of adequate levels of provision in the Borough and upon guidance given in the National Playing Fields Association, ‘Six Acre Standard’ (Minimum Standards for Children’s Use).

3. The three tiered structure for children’s informal recreation and equipped play specifies the location, minimum land area and style of provision required to provide for a range of age groups, appropriate to their needs. It is the Council’s long term aim that all homes should be within the safe prescribed walking time of each category of informal recreation and equipped play space as recommended in the. National Playing Fields Association, ‘Six Acre Standard’ (Minimum Standards for Children’s Use).

4. As a broad guideline the general characteristics of each of the categories should be as follows:

• LAP (Local Area for Play) – an area for informal recreation, incorporating landscaping and may include an unsupervised low key games area for toddlers, fencing and seating, close to homes (within 100m) and of a minimum size of 0.04ha.
• LEAP (Local Equipped Area for Play) – an area for informal recreation, incorporating landscaping that will include an unsupervised equipped junior play area, fencing and seating, within 400m of homes and of a minimum size of 0.36ha.
• NEAP (Neighbourhood Equipped Area for Play) – an area for informal recreation, incorporating landscaping, including play areas for all age groups and wheeled play and ball game opportunities, fencing and seating, servicing a substantial residential area, within 1,000m of homes and of a minimum size of 0.85ha

Source - National Playing Fields Association, ‘Six Acre Standard’ (Minimum Standards for Children’s Use).

5. The higher standard of informal recreation and children’s play space in Old Trafford is a reflection of the population structure, high population density, average small garden size, and general lack of open space in the area. The standard is based on a quantitative review of open space in the Borough which measured the amounts of open space and garden area provision and compared the results with resident population figures. The review found a relatively low amount of open space within Old Trafford relative to other areas of the Borough.

6. These standards will be used to set priorities for improving informal recreation and children’s play space provided by the Council (see Proposal OSR7(i)), and as a means of identifying areas of deficiency, where new housing development will be requiredto provide open space for this purpose (see Proposal OSR7).

Part II Proposal OSR4 – Standards for Outdoor Sports Facilities Provision

To help ensure the availability of a satisfactory range, quality and distribution of outdoor sports facilities provision for each Area Board within the Borough, the Council will seek to achieve the following standards of provision: -

• STRETFORD AREA - 0.87 ha per 1000 population
• URMSTON AREA - 0.92 ha per 1000 population
• SALE AREA - 1.18 ha per 1000 population
• ALTRINCHAM AREA - 0.92 ha per 1000 population

Justification

1. It is the Council’s long-term aim that everyone in the Borough should have reasonable access to a range of facilities for outdoor sports provision. Currently provision in the Borough as a whole falls below these standards. The Council, therefore, will seek to maintain provision where adequate and add to provision, where practicable, in areas judged to be deficient by these standards.

2. The Area Board standards reflect the local situation for the outdoor sports provision in Trafford and are underpinned by the findings of the Trafford Outdoor Sports Facilities Study. The study has assessed the local supply and demand situation for outdoor sports facilities in each Area Board for the pitch sports of football, rugby union, hockey, cricket, lacrosse and the non-pitch sports of bowls, tennis, athletics and outdoor basketball.

3. The Council will use the study to set priorities in each Area Board for improving outdoor sports facilities (see Proposal OSR8) and as a means of identifying areas of deficiency in which new housing development will be expected through negotiation to provide new outdoor sports facilities and/or contribute to the improvement of existing facilities (see Proposal OSR8).

4. The Trafford Outdoor Sports Facilities Study has taken full account of guidance set out by the National Playing Fields Association in its ‘Six Acre Standard’ (Youth and Adult Use) publication and guidance from Sport England.

Part II Proposal OSR5 – Protection of Open Space

The Council will safeguard and protect all types of open spaces described in Policy OSR1. The development of all or part of an open space will not be permitted unless: -

• It is for formal or informal recreational purposes;
• Replacement facilities of an equivalent or greater community benefit within the locality are provided;
• The proposed development is ancillary or complements the principal use of the site
• It can be clearly demonstrated that the development would not result in a local deficiency (See Proposals OSR3 and OSR4) of recreational open space and facilities, taking account also of the site’s wider environmental and community value.

In the case of Town Parks, any development, which may be permitted, will be solely for the purposes relating to the recreational usage of parks.

Justification

1. Open spaces, including parks, play areas, public and private playing fields and incidental and informal open spaces make an essential contribution to the value of the urban fabric of the Borough, especially where they serve one or more of the following functions:

• As a setting for informal and formal recreation including children’s play;
• As a setting for nature conservation and to sustain wildlife;
• As a landscaped buffer between buildings and different land uses;
• As a link to open countryside and between open spaces; and
• As a visual amenity enhancing the character, quality and setting of built up areas.

2. The Council considers that these open spaces are important, particularly where there is a shortage of informal recreation and children’s play (with equipped play space) and facilities for outdoor recreation. Their protection is essential to maintain an adequate level of open space provision to improve the quality of life for the community of Trafford.

3 . For the avoidance of doubt all war memorial and memorial garden sites within the Borough are included as “Other Open Space” within Policy OSR1 and are therefore protected by the provisions of this Proposal.

Part II Proposal OSR6 – Protected Linear Open Land

The areas listed below as Protected Linear Open Land (and defined as such on the Proposals Map) will be safeguarded as mainly undeveloped areas of open land in public and private ownership. The major functions of these areas will be to provide for:

• The retention and creation of linear greenways of visual and access links between public/private open spaces and linking urban areas and the nearby countryside
• The retention and creation of links and islands of undeveloped land along the relevant corridors defined under Proposal ENV10.

The Council will aim to improve the recreational, townscape and environmental value of these areas and to develop public access into and through them. Built development on an appropriate (normally small) scale may be acceptable if it contributes towards these aims and does not compromise the functions described above. The protected tracts of linear open land are:

• North Trafford Linear Open Land
• East bank of the Manchester Ship Canal
• Partington Greenway
• Land along Baguley Brook, Sale Moor
• Sinderland Brook Linear Open Land
• Land along Baguley Brook and Fairywell Brook
• Land along the Bridgewater Canal
• Land south of Timperley Brook
• Triangle of land bounded by Shaftesbury Avenue, Brooks Drive and the Altrincham/Stockport railway.
• Brooks Drive

As soon as resources permit priority will be given to the development of North Trafford Linear Open Land as a linear park which will include existing open spaces, new playing facilities, extensive landscaping and the creation of footpaths and cycleways. The proposal will include the acquisition of land adjacent to Park Road, south of the Manchester to Liverpool railway line.

Along the Bridgewater Canal the Council will seek to bring forward (with private sector support) proposals to create a Linear Park between Stretford and Sale town centres.

Brooks Drive is a narrow but important linear feature in the urban landscape, and is also identified on the Proposals Map as a Wildlife Corridor (Proposal ENV10) and as a Recreational Route (Proposal OSR15). The Council will seek to protect and enhance its environmental and recreational qualities, especially in relation to any adjacent development.

Justification

1. In addition to the level of protection afforded to open space under Proposal OSR5 the areas identified as Protected Linear Open Land are important ‘green corridors’ of open space between the various communities within the built up area and provide important links to the countryside. They are important for recreation, containing parks and other open spaces and as wildlife corridors (see Proposal ENV10) and for amenity and quality of life. They contain a mixture of open uses and the Council wishes to see this open character retained and improved . Brooks Drive is in mixed Council/private sector ownership and at present does not have any recorded public right of way status, The Council is currently seeking to clarify the public right of way status of this important linear feature as part of its protection/enhancement actions.

Part II Proposal OSR7 - Improvement and Provision of Informal Recreation and Children’s Play Space

The Council will, resources permitting, seek to improve existing and provide new informal recreation and children’s play (with equipped play space) in areas of deficiency, in accordance with the aims and objectives of Proposal OSR3, as set out below: -

i) Improvements to Existing Children’s Play Space

ii) New Informal Recreation and Children’s Play Space

Justification

1. The Council considers it extremely important that safe, accessible, attractive children’s play spaces for a range of activities and age groups are provided within easy reach of the home.

2. The Council undertakes a programme of improvement of existing children’s play space. The sites listed in Proposal OSR7 (I) are the Council’s priorities. The sites listed in Proposal OSR7 (ii) will provide new informal recreation and children’s play space in areas of deficiency.

The Council is also considering the siting of a further LAP in the Altrincham Area. An assessment of suitable sites will be made including Larkhill and Vale Road.

3. The improvement of existing play facilities and the provision of new facilities will assist in relieving deficiencies of informal recreation and children’s play space within the Borough. As well as improving the landscape quality of the land, providing footpath links and safe and stimulating play areas.

4. The sites are listed by geographical area and not in any priority order.

Part II Proposal OSR8 – Improvement and Provision of Outdoor Sports Facilities

The Council will seek to improve and provide outdoor sports facilities in areas of deficiency, in accordance with the aims and objectives of Proposal OSR4 by: -

• Improving existing play surfaces and ancillary facilities, to ensure provision is adequate for all age groups and use by both male and female players;
• Encouraging the development of new playing fields and sports facilities where existing facilities cannot accommodate the identified deficiency of provision;
• Promoting community use of available school facilities.

Proposals and priorities for the improvement and provision of outdoor sports facilities for each Area Board have been identified by the Trafford ‘Outdoor Sports Facilities Study .at thefollowing locations: -

Justification

The Council wishes to improve, develop and obtain optimum use from all existing outdoor sports facilities in accordance with the Council’s adopted Leisure Strategy, and advice from Sport England and the National Playing Fields Association.

The Trafford Outdoor Sports Facilities t Study has identified options and priorities for the improvement and development of outdoor sports facilities in each Area Board, based upon a detailed investigation of the supply and demand within each area.

Part II Proposal OSR9 – Open Space in New Housing Development

The Council will seek to ensure that provision is made in new residential development for the open space needs generated by that development, or that a contribution is made for provision to meet such needs elsewhere. Provision should be made in accordance with the standards set out in Proposals OSR3 and OSR4. In applying those standards, all developments will be assessed to establish their open space needs. Account will be taken of the scale of the proposed development, the size and type of dwellings involved, and whether the needs generated by the development could reasonably be met by an existing over-provision of suitable open space in the locality.

Informal Recreation and Children’s Play (with equipped play space)

Well located informal recreation and play space on site, where appropriate, at an equivalent to a minimum of 0.8ha (1.2 ha for the Old Trafford area) per 1000 population, in accordance with the children’s play space hierarchy of:

LAPs – (Local Areas for Play)
LEAPs – (Local Equipped Areas for Play)
NEAPs – (Neighbourhood Equipped Areas for Play)

Outdoor Sports Facilities

Provision of outdoor sports facilities on site, where appropriate, in accordance with the following Area Board standards:

Developers should seek to accommodate the required provision on or immediately adjacent to the proposed development site.

In circumstances where on-site or adjacent to the site provision is not practical or desirable; the Council will seek a financial contribution from the developer towards the provision of new or improved facilities in a nearby off-site location.

Any off -site provision or financial contribution should be fairly and reasonably related in scale and kind to the proposed housing development and be of direct benefit to the occupiers of the new development.

Sheltered housing and special needs housing developments for the elderly will not be required to provide, or contribute towards the provision of informal recreation and children’s play space or outdoor sports facilities.

Justification

1. Developers of new housing will be expected to make adequate provision for informal recreation and children’s play space and outdoor sports provision either on or adjacent to the site or in the form of a commuted payment to fund the provision or improvement of facilities in a nearby off-site location.

2. The Proposal requires that all proposed residential developments be assessed to establish their open space needs. To ensure that the provision of open space is equitable,the assessment will be applicable to all new residential developments, irrespective of size, where there will be a resulting increase in residential capacity on site. This includes: redevelopment, conversion of dwelling-houses to flats, changes of use to residential, extensions that will increase the number of dwelling units and applications to renew existing planning permission.

3. The standard for open space is based on population. The Council considers it appropriate to use a standard based on the capacity of each dwelling because it distinguishes between the different types of dwellings in a development.

Table 1:RESIDENTIAL CAPACITY RATES

Houses and Flats

Source; - Census data 1991

* This takes account of open plan accommodation where a mezzanine bed space may replace an actual bedroom.

Informal Recreation and Children’s Play Space

4. Housing developments will be required to accommodate, as much as possible of the required informal recreation and children’s play space provision on site. In the case of smaller developments (with a residential capacity of under 50 persons) or developments which cannot accommodate some or all of the required provision on or adjacent to the site. A commuted sum will be required (for the remainder of or all of the informal recreation and children’s play space not located on site), to contribute towards the provision of new, or the enhancement of existing facilities. Possible locations for the improvement or creation of new informal recreation and children’s play space (categorised by the three tiered LAP, LEAP, NEAP system described in Proposal OSR3), are listed in Policy OSR7.

5. These 3 categories of LAP, LEAP and NEAP require the provision of different types of play areas for a range of age groups appropriate to their needs. For each category, the required play space in terms of size, location, type and style of provision and population it will serve is described in more detail in Table 2 OSR3

6. Accessibility to informal recreation and children’s play space is important and all residential development should be within the safe prescribed walking time of each category of play space, without having to cross a busy main road or other safety hazard.

Outdoor Sports Provision

7. Developers of new housing will also be required to make provision for outdoor sports facilities for use by the occupiers of a development scheme. However, because the majority of anticipated new developments will be small in scale, making on-site provision an impractical proposition, such provision will most likely need to be made via a commuted sum payment to the Council.

8. Although, residents are usually prepared to travel greater distances to utilise outdoor sports facilities, the commuted sum payment method of improving or creating new outdoor sports facilities will be applied to the creation or improvement of facilities located within the same Area Board area as the new development proposal, in order to ensure a direct relationship between the improvement facilitated by the commuted sum payment and the development proposal that is funding the scheme.

Commuted Sum Payments

9. In cases where commuted sum payments are expected calculations will be made based upon the residential capacity of new development. The residential capacity rates are outlined in Table 1:

10. Contributions will only be required where they are fairly and reasonably related in scale and kind to the development proposal and where such contributions would be of direct benefit to the occupiers of the new development.

11. The Council will require developers to maintain or pay commuted sums for the maintenance of open space only where this is consistent with paragraph B14 of Circular 1/97. In circumstances where it is agreed between the developers and the Council that the Council will carry out maintenance of open space on the developers’ behalf, it will be necessary for the developer to pay a sum covering the maintenance for a set period based on the finished area.

12. In some cases where it is necessary for the Council to hold funds for a reasonable period of time to allow this process to take place. The Council accepts that it will refund any monies that remain unspent after 8 years from the date of payment.

Supplementary Planning Guidance

13. Supplementary Planning Guidance has been produced outlining the procedure for making cost calculations, details of the commuted sum and maintenance costs and further detail on the type of informal recreation and children’s play space and outdoor sports facilities required.

This will show the broad areas of over and under provision in the Borough.

Part II Proposal OSR10 – Allotments

The Council will ensure that an adequate supply of allotment gardens will be maintained to meet existing and future needs. In particular the Council will protect from built development those sites shown on the Proposals Map as Protected Open Space or as Protected Linear Open Land (see Proposals OSR5 and OSR6).

Justification

Those allotments shown on the Proposals Map contain 1,312 plots at 32 sites. Lettings statistics indicate that they provide an important recreation facility for a significant number of residents. All the sites except Laneheads (private) in Urmston are statutory allotments and will not be developed for any other purpose unless provision is made of an equivalent standard in the same locality.

Should demand fluctuate resulting in a period of disuse or low demand, the Council will consider temporary and positive uses that might include parks, nature gardens, woodlands, playing fields and nursery gardens. In special circumstances the Council will consider other land uses providing a replacement site is provided and laid out in a suitable location before the use of the existing allotment ceases.

Part II Proposal OSR11 – Golf Courses

The Council will promote the creation of an 18 hole golf course and landscaped car park at Lesley Road Tip and Hillam Farm, Stretford within a Community Forest setting including the retention of the playing field in the north western corner of the site. Other new proposals for golf courses will be judged against the following criteria: -

• The impact of the development (including any buildings) on the landscape qualities of the area;
• The effect of the scheme on the rural character of the area, including the balance of formal and informal land uses in the locality;
• The effect of the proposal on the conservation of natural habitats;
• The effect of any proposal that would lead to the irreversible loss of the best and most versatile agricultural land.

Any proposals in the Mersey Valley and Bollin Valley Areas of Special Landscape Value, as defined on the Proposals Map, will be particularly carefully scrutinised against these criteria.

Justification

The Council recognises the continuing demand for golfing provision within the Borough and would support the development of a golf course by the private sector. The extension of the site from that shown in Proposal 40 of the Mersey Valley Local Plan will compensate for the area displaced by additional tree planting and will provide sufficient space for the creation of an attractive golf course. This site will provide an important element of the Community Forest.

Major extensions to other golf courses in the Mersey and Bollin Valleys would be at the expense of informal recreation and agriculture.

Part II Proposal OSR12 – Country Parks & Informal Recreation Areas

The Council will retain those countryside informal recreation areas shown on the Proposals Map and will promote the creation of Country Parks and further countryside informal recreation areas at key sites on the urban fringe and in the Mersey and Bollin Valleys where they are accessible to the residents of Trafford and do not conflict with other land uses.

Proposed Country Parks are: -

• Wellacre, Flixton

The Council will develop the area shown on the Proposals Map as a Country Park for informal recreation within a Community Forest setting, with some provision for agriculture. The Proposal will include playing field provision and facilities for car parking and visitor information.

• ii) Altrincham Sewage Works

The Council will seek to develop this area for informal recreation subject to the operational requirements of United Utilities.

Proposed Countryside Informal Recreation Areas are: -

• Urmston Meadows (from the M60 to the River Mersey west of Willow Farm)

The Council will protect existing countryside informal recreation facilities and will encourage the provision of further informal recreation facilities in the area, and a landscaped visitors car park, as part of the Community Forest.

• Land adjacent to Broadway (up to and including the disused railway line north east of Partington)

The Council will seek the development of this area for informal recreation as part of the Community Forest.

• Open land south of the M60 Motorway, Sale

The Council will continue to seek to develop this area primarily for informal recreation within a Community Forest setting. Areas immediately north of Priory Gardens will be used in conjunction with the nearby Water Park and provision will be made for a horse schooling/exercise area, with associated bridle routes. The development of further outdoor recreation facilities such as a golf driving range and trim trail will be considered subject to local environmental and traffic considerations.

• Land west of Roaring Gate Lane, Davenport Green

If Proposal E14 is implemented, the Council will require that the 245 acres of land surrounding the development site be conserved, enhanced and managed for ecological interest and farming, with limited public access including some recreational use.

Justification

In recent years there has been considerable growth in the use of the countryside and urban fringe for informal recreation pursuits. National and local trends indicate that demand for further facilities will increase significantly during the Plan period. The Council recognise that the protection of sites and the provision of new facilities at appropriate locations, especially in the Mersey and Bollin Valleys, can help to provide for informal recreational needs and demands of Trafford's residents and visitors and alleviate pressures on existing attractions such as Sale Water Park. The careful selection and management of sites will at the same time relieve potential conflicts between formal and informal recreation, farming and nature conservation interests. The Council will seek to produce a management plan in discussion with landowners in each area to guide development of these Proposals.

The reasons for the specific proposals above are: -

i) Wellacre, Flixton - to enable comprehensive landscape improvements and the management of nature conservation and informal recreation uses within a community forest setting. The Proposal may involve purchasing or negotiating access on or across privately owned areas of land and providing facilities for car parking, information and interpretation. Associated access improvements including footpath and bridleway Proposals and the playing field Proposal are brought forward unaltered from the Mersey Valley Local Plan (Proposals a59 to a64 and 55 respectively).

ii) Altrincham Sewage Works - part of the sewage works no longer required. The area is regenerating naturally and has good potential for wildlife. Subject to the operational requirements of United Utilities, the Council will improve the site's landscape quality and provide public access where appropriate. The site is identified as an area of search in the Minerals Chapter of the Plan. In the event of gravel extraction works, the Council will support the development of water areas for informal recreation and nature conservation.

iii) Land west of Roaring Gate Lane, Davenport Green - the Council will, as part of the requirement of Proposal E14 that this area be developed as a rural park, restore, enhance and manage this good quality land for the benefit of the public and to retain the open character of the area.

iv) Urmston Meadows - this area which provides for informal recreation in the Mersey Valley close to Urmston, needs considerable landscape improvement and has potential to provide more informal outdoor recreation facilities.

v) Land adjacent to Broadway, Partington - this area forms part of a girdle of open space around Partington and will provide recreation facilities for the northern part of Partington.

vi) Open land south of the M60 Motorway, Sale - this area includes woodlands, nursery gardens and tipped land, part of which is regenerating naturally. It is used extensively for informal recreation and as a link to Sale Water Park and the Mersey Valley. The site has the potential to absorb additional outdoor recreation facilities within a Community Forest setting.

Part II Proposal OSR13 – Sale Water Park

The Council will maintain Sale Water Park as a major regional centre for water sports and informal recreation, within an overall landscape scheme. In doing so the Council will seek to:-

• Conserve Broad Ees Dole, the meadow in the north east of the Park and the wildlife area next to the Visitor Centre;
• Establish a statutory Local Nature Reserve at Broad Ees Dole;
• Provide tree planting to screen the M60 Motorway;
• Encourage the provision of a Metrolink stop to facilitate access to the Park and to relieve the pressure on the area caused by cars visiting the Water Park;
• Provide on open land south of the M60 Motorway, a bridleway link with Sale Water Park, utilising the existing railway bridge under the Motorway which is suitable for this purpose;
• Provide a site for low cost, overnight, caravan and camping accommodation that fulfils the requirements of Proposal C11(iii).

Justification

Sale Water Park is at a critical stage in its development. Most of the proposals of the Mersey Valley Local plan have now been implemented increasing its attractiveness to visitors. It is now used intensively all year round and during the summer months to saturation point.

There is a danger that if continued development is permitted, even development that is loosely ancillary to the recreation use of the Park, it will cease to be an attractive location for the range of recreational pursuits available and the study and enjoyment of nature conservation.

The above proposals will form the basis for a detailed management plan for the Park that will seek to balance the number of people to be accommodated with the capacity of the Park to absorb them without damage to the environment and the character of the Mersey Valley.

Part II Proposal OSR14 – Recreational Use of the Bridgewater Canal

The Council will encourage and promote measures to: -

• Improve access to and the use of the Bridgewater Canal for informal recreation use;
• Improve the use of the canal tow-path by cyclists and pedestrians where this is compatible with other uses and with the provisions of Proposal OSR6;
• Improve linkages to other existing or planned recreational routes in the Borough (see Proposal OSR15).

The Council will not grant planning permission for any development proposal that will prejudice public access to the Canal and its future use for the purposes described above (see Proposal OSR16).

Justification

The Bridgewater Canal (built in 1767) is an important historic feature that forms part of a canal network of strategic importance. It is an important visual feature in the landscape and acts as an important “wildlife” and recreational route corridor through the Borough. It is presently, however, an under used resource that can provide valuable leisure opportunities for local residents.

In addition to seeking to improve the recreational utility of the Canal, Proposals T15 and TP12 propose measures to improve its utility from an educational, cultural and historical perspective.

Part II Proposal OSR15 – Integrated Access Network for Trafford

The Council will promote, design and maintain an integrated network of footpaths, bridleways and cycle routes to link residential areas to open spaces, recreation facilities, the open countryside, areas of high landscape value, the river valleys and features of local interest such as Trafford's brooks.

In particular the Council will seek to develop: -

i) A strategic network of recreational routes in conjunction with other local authorities in Greater Manchester and Cheshire. The strategic routes are: -

• The Trans Pennine Trail,
• The Bridgewater Canal,
• The Bollin Valley Way,
• The Mersey Valley Way,
• The Mersey Bollin Link (east).

ii) Local “circular" routes linking to the strategic network and improved linkages between existing public rights of way, including the enhancement of Brooks Drive, Timperley, between Fairywell Brook and Dobbinets Lane, as a recreational route.

iii) Within the Mersey Valley priority will be given to developing and way-marking the following routes for cyclists, horse riders and walkers.

Flixton -

• Bridleway along the bank of the Ship Canal and track north of the Manchester-Warrington railway line from Irlam Road to Coniston Road,
• Bridleway - Irlam Road to Coniston Road,
• Bridleway circuit - pond at De Brook Court to track along north side of Manchester-Warrington railway line,
• Bridleway circuit - margins of Flixton Sewage Farm,
• Footpath - under railway from bank of Ship Canal to Coniston Road,

Urmston -

• Bridleway - from Hawthorn Road, Stretford to the river bank at Newcroft Road,
• Bridleway - north bank of the River Mersey from Newcroft Farm to Calver House,
• Bridleway circuit along boundary of former Cob Kiln Lane tip via Ousel Brook to north bank of the River Mersey,
• Footpath - Cob Kiln Lane tip north to Stretford Road,
• Bridleway circuit - Urmston Meadows north,
• Footpath - Old Eea Brook car park to Southgate,

Stretford -

• Bridleway circuit - north bank of the River Mersey, Jacksons Bridge to Barfoot Bridge,
• Bridleway - from Kickety Brook to Hillam Farm to Newcroft Road and east to rejoin route at Kickety Brook,

Sale -

• Bridleway - south bank of the River Mersey, Bailey Bridge to Jacksons Bridge,
• Bridleway - Fairy Lane to Golf Road,
• Footpath - Golf Road to Rifle Road,
• Bridleway - south bank of the River Mersey, Jacksons Bridge to Barfoot Bridge,
• Bridleway - from Church Lane, Ashton to the River Mersey at Ashton Weir, and a new bridge over the River Mersey,
• Bridleway - Ashton Weir to Hawthorn Lane, Ashton,
• Bridleway - Hawthorn Lane to Carrington Lane, Ashton,
• Bridleway - Carrington Lane to Epping Drive, Ashton,
• Bridleway - Woodcote Road to Firtree Avenue, Ashton,

Carrington -

• Bridleway - Sinderland Road, Altrincham to Sinderland Green,
• Bridleway - Woodcote Road and new link to Ackers Lane,
• Bridleway - Firsway north to road used as a public path number 1(RUPP1)
• Bridleway - Birch Road north to junction of Ackers Lane and Ashton Road,
• Bridleway - Common Lane to North Road (R.U.P.P. 24 to Footpath 9),
• Bridleway - Woodcote Road to Footpath 15.

Justification

Improving access is fundamental in developing the recreational use of open space and facilitating the enjoyment of the countryside by Trafford's residents and visitors. The Council intend to produce an access strategy in co-operation with local amenity groups to promote better use of the Borough's footpaths and other rights of way to give a wider choice of recreational routes for cyclists, horse-riders and walkers in all parts of the Borough. Where possible attempts will be made to segregate horses and walkers.

Part II Proposal OSR16 – Protection of Access Network

The Council will not normally permit any development that would either dissect routes or would prejudice the creation of an integrated access network.

Major new transport routes and development proposals should not impede or restrict the use of existing footpaths, bridleways and cycle routes. The Council will require the provision of alternative access routes should they be dissected and will need to be satisfied that any alternative proposed is at least as attractive as the route being replaced.

Justification

To ensure a viable and comprehensive access network.

Part II Proposal OSR17 – Disused Railway Lines

The Council will seek to protect and improve the converted railway line west of the Sinderland level crossing, Broadheath and the River Bollin, near Heatley as a recreational route for pedestrians, cyclists and horse riders. Any future development preventing its eventual re-use as a railway would not be permitted.

Should any other line become disused or surplus to transport requirements, the Council will not permit any new buildings or non-transport land issues which would sever the route and prevent its eventual re-use as a railway, or prevent its use for recreation, public access or nature conservation.

Justification

To increase opportunities for public access, recreation and nature conservation. The Council will continue to protect the converted railway line west of Sinderland crossing. It is an important route that forms part of the Trans Pennine Trail from Southport/Liverpool to Hull/Hornsea and the National Cycling Network.

Part II Proposal OSR18 – District Outdoor Sports Stadium

The Council will grant planning permission for the development of a purpose-built all-seated stadium to accommodate about 10,000 spectators for a combination of football, rugby and/or athletics within the urban area, in a location convenient for access by the local spectator base of the clubs, provided that it can be demonstrated that the proposal in particular: -

• Satisfies the access requirements of Proposal T6;
• Does not adversely affect any planned highway, public transport, pedestrian or cycle route specified in Proposals T8, T11, T18 or T19;
• Does not adversely affect any area or feature of acknowledged environmental, landscape, biological, or historic importance;
• Cannot be accommodated more appropriately on any other site within the Borough.

Justification

1. Trafford has a number of sports clubs, which during the Plan period may require new facilities to enable their continued development.

2. Annex E of PPG2 – Green Belts clearly indicates that large stadium developments are not an appropriate form of development within the approved Green Belt. The Councilwill therefore only be prepared to consider such development proposals within the urban area subject to the above criteria.

3. All other the matters that the Council will need to be satisfied upon before it can consider granting planning permission for a development of this nature are set out in Proposals D1 and D2.

Part II Proposal OSR19 – Major Indoor Sports Facilities

The Council will grant planning permission for the further development of major indoor sports facilities at suitable locations within the urban area of the Borough where it can be demonstrated that the proposal in particular: -

• Satisfies the access requirements of Proposal T6;
• Does not adversely affect any planned highway, public transport, pedestrian or cycle route specified in Proposals T8, T11, T18 or T19;
• Does not adversely affect any area or feature of acknowledged environmental, landscape, biological, or historic importance;
• Cannot be accommodated more appropriately on any other site within the Borough.

Justification

1. Development pressure for new indoor sports facilities to meet the rising demand from the resident population is expected to continue through the Plan period. A particular need for an indoor basketball centre has been identified and the Council will promote the provision of this facility.

2. Annex E of PPG2 – Green Belts clearly indicates that large indoor sports facility developments would not be an appropriate form of development within the approved Green Belt. The Council will therefore only be prepared to consider such development proposals within the urban area subject to the above criteria.

3. All other the matters that the Council will need to be satisfied upon before it can consider granting planning permission for a development of this nature are set out in Proposals D1 and D2.