Suburb on outskirts of Middleton set for new playground after long saga

Wednesday, 21 May 2025 17:07

By George Lythgoe, Local Democracy Reporter

A new playground is finally set to be built in Alkrington after years of battling.

The suburb on the edge of Middleton will get a new playground after seeing two close down in recent years.

This week, Rochdale council’s township committee in Middleton are set to approve funding of £84,840 for the new playground on a field off Mainway and Moss Lane.

The money is expected to go towards paths, fencing, swings, see-saws and other play equipment.

The issue has raged on for years with local groups initially going against plans for the playground off Mainway – worried about the danger of the mine shafts underneath.

Concerns about the potential antisocial behaviour the play park could bring were also shared by the group called the Alkrington Alliance.

A spokesperson for Alkrington Alliance told the Local Democracy Reporting Service back in 2023: “It would be such a shame, we have very little green space. It has not been touched in over 100 years, it’s not been built on.

“So, the fact is these councillors want to waste money when there are better things to spend money on.”

Although other sites were considered by the council, Mainway field was the largest open space available, meaning potential noise and antisocial behaviour would be less of an issue. A council report went on to say they will look into mine shafts under the field as well as drainage issues before any building work.

Local resident Laura Burgess started an online petition last year in favour of the new playground being built. It gathered just under 2,000 signatures.

She is now urging the council to get on with the job.

Laura told the LDRS: “The issue has been going on for a generation. I grew up in Alkrington back in the 1980s and 1990s and there were loads of playgrounds.

“I moved back in 2028 with my family and realised there as a real lack of play space. I have been contacting the council about this ever since, so around seven years now.

“My priority is getting a play space, I’m not worried about where it should go.

“It’s a massive field, so there is loads of space for it. My children may be too old for it when it’s actually built but other children could really benefit from this.”

A special meeting of the Middleton Township Committee has been called on May 22, where councillors will decide whether to approve or refuse the funds for the playground.