CAMPAIGNERS fighting to prevent Flixton’s green belt from being built on are aiming to carry out their own survey to identify potential alternative sites for development in the borough.

The campaigners - from Flixton, Urmston and Davyhulme Future Planning on-line group - are fighting town hall proposals to build houses on swathes of land in Flixton as part of the Greater Manchester Spatial Framework (GMSF).

They have set up a £5,000 appeal in order to 'take this fight to the council' by employing their own expert independent planner to assess sites that could be built on instead of the green belt in Flixton.

The group's Michelle McGrath said: "We are looking to raise £5000 to commission an independent planner to look at sites already identified by the council but, more importantly, other brownfield and other suitable sites around Trafford that could accommodate housing.

"If we can prove that there are alternative sites for these houses then the council do not have their exceptional circumstances, cannot downgrade green belt status and in turn cannot put housing on that land."

The group raised £1,700 towards its £5,000 target within 48 hours of the appeal being launched.

Michelle appealed to other supporters to donate by visiting their fundraising site at bit.ly/DonatetoFlixtonGreenBelt

But leader of the council, Cllr Sean Anstee, claims the council is acting to protect green areas.
He said: "The Greater Manchester Spatial Framework is about controlling development in such a way that maximises protection of our green areas. 
"If we did not put in place this plan then development decisions would be taken out of our hands with the potential for ensuing a development free for all."