BUILDERS are pressing ahead with the development of Aimson Road field in Timperley - despite a legal challenge being mounted.

SAM revealed last week that campaigners are claiming the land as a village green.

They say work should be halted until a decision on their appeal is made - but builders David Wilson Homes are continuing to work on the site.

They have cut down shrubbery and fenced off the land, and the firm's north western regional managing director Rob Foster says: "Having purchased the site we are developing it in accordance with valid planning permission.

"While we have been notified by the local authority that an application has been submitted for the land to be registered as 'common land', the question of the validity of the application is a matter for the authority to decide in accordance with statutory procedures.

"On the facts available we believe the application is unlikely to succeed and until the issue has been decided by the local authority, the company is entitled to continue development."

Cllr Bernice Garlick, Trafford spokesman for housing, is backing the development and told SAM: "There is a need for homes in the area. There will also be planned open space at Aimson Road and that will be an improvement on what is there now."

But a spokesman for the Countryside Commission says: "If the public use is within the qualifying criteria of registration, then building would be unlawful."

Campaigner Reg Temple - who is leading the fight to block the housing scheme - claims Cllr Garlick is talking 'rubbish' and criticises the council for planning to spend £250,000 to create a park at Aimson Road.

"Aimson Road field is already very well used by walkers, runners and children playing and has been for years. I believe that park would end up as a trouble spot and before long houses would be built on that too," he told SAM.

"And I think it is terrible the council is spending £250,000 on a park when they are not helping us to clear up Brooks Drive, which would cost only £50,000."

To register open land as a village green, local people have to prove they can use the land for sports and pastimes 'as of right'. They must prove the use of the land was open, did not require permission from the landowner and had gone on for more than 20 years.

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