It is sometimes difficult to appreciate the feeling of helplessness when trying to reverse a council decision when it would appear that there is no room for discussion.
Within a fortnight of the demolition notice, a petition to save the Conservatory had collected over 5000 signatures. Most of the signatories lived and grew up in Ashton or Stalybridge and had strong connections with the park.
the Save Stamford Park Greenhouse group
Within a few weeks, our Facebook group had over 2500 members, discussing the plight of the Conservatory, suggesting future uses, adding advice and generally showing that there is a huge strength of feeling towards preserving this asset. We are now extending our reach to the wider community and are hosting a series of meetings where we are asking the local community for ideas and suggestions.
This is a wonderful start, but we need more. Having halted the demolition (albeit briefly) we now have six months to put together a case for the building to become a community asset. We need to collect personal histories about relatives you may have with a connection to the park, we need professionals and tradespeople who may help our application. Above all we need to include the communities in Ashton and Stalybridge to ensure that whatever happens to the Conservatory, it becomes a sustainable asset for all to enjoy.
The group is in the process of becoming a constituted group to be able to take over the running of the Conservatory.
If you are interested, please follow our Facebook Group or drop us an email at admin@stamfordparkgreenhouse.org