Gary Neville in ‘Twitter meltdown’ after his plans to turn Greater Manchester greenbelt into Salford City FC training pitches rejected
The former Manchester United ace had wanted to turn fields in Turn Moss, Trafford, into training pitches for Salford City
GARY Neville has been accused of having “a Twitter meltdown” after his plans to develop an area of greenbelt land in Greater Manchester was rejected.
The former Manchester United legend, 43, wanted to turn fields in Turn Moss, Trafford, into training pitches for Salford City FC and the proposed University Academy ’92, which he, together with four other former United players, is spearheading.
But the plans have failed to get off the ground after they were met with fierce local opposition and hit another snag this week when a decision on them was put on hold because the Conservatives lost control of Trafford Council in the recent local elections.
Labour, who are now the largest local party, have previously stated their opposition to the plans.
Neville revealed on Twitter that he was now looking for alternative sites in Trafford after being goaded that his “Tory mates had been given the boot”.
He tweeted: “It isn’t my loss.. We will have what we want. I’m going to 2 locations elsewhere in Trafford tomorrow who are opening their arms to us for the investment and usage.
"It doesn’t affect us one bit! Please get that. However those kids of Stretford!! I’m sorry.”
He also lashed out on the social networking site, saying campaigners had harassed and mocked him and his colleagues.
His comments provoked a spokesman for campaigning group Friends of Turn Moss, who opposed his plans, to say: "It appears Gary has had a meltdown on Twitter.”
In sometimes angry exchanges, Neville - who’d been heckled at a public meeting in February - accused greenbelt campaigners of making the issue “political and personal”.
He said he hoped they would stay active “without me to socially stalk and harass” and once he’d found somewhere else and he “will send you [campaigners] pictures of what could have been achieved.”
“We were called liars, suggested we were doing a dodgy deal, greedy, misleading with intent , harassed on here, mocked at events and our honesty and motives questioned again and again,” he also tweeted.
The proposed plans had included three new grass football pitches, an all-weather 3G pitch, a 60 seater café, public toilets, children’s play area, improved changing facilities, a trim trail with outdoor fitness equipment and improved car parking.
The Tory-controlled council had claimed they would bring flooded land back into use and provide facilities for the local community.
But campaign group Friends of Turn Moss claimed the plans would hand over protected open space to the private sector, while harming wildlife and causing extra noise and traffic congestion.
They’d also argued that they would lead to Salford FC, co-owned by Neville, taking over the land in the long term.
Trafford council’s planning committee was due to make a decision on the plans next week, but the application was postponed following Labour's victory at the local elections last Thursday.
Co-chair of Friends of Turn Moss campaigner Nigel Woodcock 46, said: “It appears Gary has had a meltdown on Twitter."
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“We’re delighted with his decision and we just want to move on now and come up with a people’s plan that the involves the local community.”
Dr Woodcock accused the previous Trafford Council administration and Neville of trying to “steamroll” through the plans, adding: “This time we want to be properly consulted, unlike the previous consultation which was a sham.”
“We are looking forward to the future and want improvements at Turn Moss that will benefit the community.”
In January, members of Manchester United's ‘Class of ’92’, which includes Neville and his brother Phil, Ryan Giggs, Nicky Butt and Paul Scholes, had their plans to build a university and a student village in nearby Stretford approved.
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