Bamford & Norden April 2019

“All that is left for the Friends of
Heritage Green and the community
to do is to continue to enjoy Heritage
Green and look after it and improve it.’
Mark summarised how the journey
had come to an end by explaining
what made Rochdale Council finally
register Heritage Green as a Village
Green:
“The land was compulsory purchased
by the Council, along with surrounding
land, for building council houses in the
1950’s and Rochdale Council could
have used the land for Council housing
or alternatively laid it out as a proper
managed recreational space but did
neither and instead we, the community,
without the stated permission of the
Council, used the open space for our
pleasure and recreation for decades
and in so doing have earned the right to
continue using it in just the same way.
“Whilst this has all been terribly
complicated, and taken forever, the
simple truth is that the field is a
community recreation facility and
should always stay as just that and
by using it and fighting for it, the
community has ensured that it will.
“I would like to thank all members of
the Friends of Heritage Green,
interested members of the community,
local businesses, the local media,
MP Liz Mcinnes, the 3 Ward
Councillors, Mike Holly, Jim Gartside
and Peter Winkler, Council Officers
and Rangers who have assisted with
the maintenance and development of
Heritage Green and the installation of
the marker and anybody else that has
helped in any way.
Mark Hope
Friends of Heritage Green
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