For more details on the 'Goals Centre' plans to run private Astro turfed soccer pitches on Heaton Park land, visit http://www.saveheatonpark.org.uk/

Lodging a planning application objection will take you 2 minutes.

You must lodge an objection by 20th July - go and do it right now!

1) Go to this page (it redirects to the Mancs Council planning site) - http://tinyurl.com/leuakn 

2) Fill in your details and then carefully select the various options:
 
3) COMMENTATOR TYPE: Neighbour (obviously if you live near the park, you're a neighbour)
 
4) REASONS:
 
(hold down the ctrl key to select multiple reasons.) I chose:

• Ecology 
• Light 
• Loss of trees 
• Noise or Disturbance 
• Parking 
• Traffic 
• Visual Amenity 

 
5) MAKE SURE YOU SELECT THE OPTION "Inform the Authority that you object to the Planning Application."
 
6) COMMENTS:
 
As I understand it, planning decisions apply more weight to objections/concerns over traffic and pollution, parking and environmental concerns. Your objection is likely to carry less weight if you simply object on grounds of aesthetic or tradition.
 
These are the comments I made, you may wish to use these as a 'template':
 
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As a local resident of Heaton Park, I object to this application for planning permission to place astroturf, concrete and floodlighting on parkland.
 
My objections are:
 
Traffic congestion and pollution
 
As I understand it, the Soccer Centre would be open from 9.00am to 11.00pm seven days a week. This will add major traffic congestion to the already heavily congested roads around Heaton Park.
 
Parking will overflow into residential areas
 
Heaton Park’s car parks are currently unable to accommodate the huge amount of traffic trying to access the park, this has led to major parking problems on many roads in Prestwich.
 
Environment Damage
 
This development will lead to a detrimental effect on the environment. Natural habitats will be destroyed. Floodlighting and noise will change this quiet area for ever.
 
Loss of Open Parkland
 
Heaton Park is a public park, part of the local heritage, a green space for the residents of Manchester and surrounding areas to enjoy. This will be lost forever if this sports development goes ahead. Other Goals Centres cost £40/hour to hire a pitch.
 
Existing facilities
 
There are already perfectly adequate grass football pitches, in an adjacent field. Why aren't these suitable for daytime and early evening football games?
 
This is a project for a Brownfield site
 
We all need more sports facilities, including soccer pitches - but not by taking away land in this unique park. Lets find other “brownfield” sites in Prestwich and North Manchester for more sports facilities.