Please see our letter to the candidates for GM Mayor sent on the 14th of July. We will publish the responses we receive from the candidates on this page.

Dear Candidate for Greater Manchester Mayor,

We are writing on behalf of Ryebank Fields Community Group to seek your views on the protection of urban green spaces across Greater Manchester.

Ryebank Fields in Chorlton is a long-established urban woodland and meadow that has faced repeated development pressure over the past 30 years, including two housing planning applications and an unsuccessful approach to Manchester City Council in 2004 regarding potential residential development. Local residents have consistently campaigned to retain the site as open green space, and a community-led planning application has been submitted to preserve it as woodland and meadow for future generations.

We recognise that planning applications must be determined through the proper statutory process and are not asking you to prejudge any planning decision. However, Ryebank Fields raises wider questions about the protection of valued urban green spaces where brownfield alternatives exist.

We would be grateful if you could respond to the following questions:

1. Do you support the principle of protecting long-established urban green spaces where suitable brownfield development opportunities exist elsewhere?
2. Do you support the local community's efforts to retain Ryebank Fields as open green space?
3. What action, if any, would you take as Mayor to strengthen the protection of valued urban green spaces across Greater Manchester?

We are sending this letter to all mayoral candidates and intend to publish all responses received on the Ryebank Fields Community Group website and social media channels.

To allow time for publication before polling day, we would be grateful to receive your response by 22 July 2026.

Please send your response to: [email protected]

Yours sincerely,

Dr. Rhetta Moran,

Chair, Ryebank Fields Community Group