Calls for Village Green status for Ryebank Playing Fields supported

12.00.00am BST (GMT +0100) Tue 13th Sep 2005

Withington Liberal Democrat MP John Leech has thrown his support behind local residents who have applied for Ryebank Playing Fields in Chorlton to be given Village Green status.

John, who has been involved in the "Save Ryebank" campaign group since before the General Election, has also written to MMU Vice-Chancellor John Brooks and asked him not to sell off the land.

John Leech said today, "We have a lack of green space in South Manchester due to development pressures, and I urge the Metropolitan University to take this opportunity to preserve what little green space we have by withdrawing their plans to sell off the land."

He continued, "I have friends who live on Ryebank Road who have used the field for the past 25 years. This area will be adversely affected by development."