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LET’S talk: Derek Shaw, Frank Hodgkinson and Caroline Tamworth (Chorlton Planning) with the plans and local residents

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SOME Shaw householders would rather see a local abattoir enlarged than the land turned into a housing estate and country park.

Controversial plans to transform an abattoir into 100 houses and a 30-acre park were given a big thumbs-down as consultation began.

Many locals have raised concerns about housing access. Resident of 49 years Winifred Hopkinson (79), said: “I’m against it. It’s ludicrous. If it’s 100 houses that’s going to be almost 200 cars and 300 people and that’s a lowest estimate. The country park is just a carrot. They are trying to get us to go for the development with that.”

Permission has already been granted for an extension of the existing slaughterhouse. Plans for the park and 100 three and four bedroomed, detached homes are yet to be submitted.

One resident, who didn’t want to be named, said: “I would be in favour of an expanded abattoir but not the housing and country park. How much green belt land is there left? Where will it stop? It’s ridiculous.”

The owner of the abattoir hopes either to expand the business or sell the land and move elsewhere. As yet the architects asked to develop possible uses haven’t approached the council to see if houses would be acceptable on the site.