A popular open space is to receive protection from the developers and to remain accessible to the public after an application for Fields in Trust status was approved.

Trafford Council applied for Fields in Trust status for the former William Wroe golf course last year and the authorities learned the process was a success last week.

When the golf course closed around six years ago, it was earmarked for inclusion in the Greater Manchester Spatial Framework, now known as Places for Everyone, as a site for hundreds of homes.

But the authorities decided to retain it for the community and, in 2020, designated it as a village green.

Now it is to receive protection from the developers and to remain accessible to the public thanks to a document called a Deed of Dedication, which sets out what can and cannot be done with the site.

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Trafford Council received a draft to be reviewed over the summer and the Fields in Trust status could come into effect as soon as this August.

The management of the site remains the responsibility of the landowner and the Fields in Trust status lasts in 'perpetuity'.

Liz Patel, Trafford Council’s executive member for economy and regeneration, was the one to apply for the protection.

Cllr Patel said: "We are absolutely delighted to receive a Deed of Dedication for Fields in Trust status for the former William Wroe golf course. We promised to take action to protect our green spaces and we are delivering on the promise. The William Wroe site is an extremely important site for the community and has been the subject of developer interest in the past.

"People across the borough love their green spaces and we will continue to work with everyone to improve the William Wroe site for all." 

This article was written by Jack Tooth. To contact him, email jack.tooth@newsquest.co.uk or follow @JTRTooth on Twitter.