Questions among Makerfield voters over Reform's commitment to preserving green belt

Local plumber Robert Kenyon has regularly spoken out against “green-belt grabs” for housing development in the constituency as part of his campaign in the Makerfield by-election.

He told voters at a Manchester Evening News hustings on June 10 that protecting the green belt was "one of the things that got [him] into politics,” and specifically mentioned controversial plans by Kingswood Homes to build on the Winstanley Hall estate, based at the back of Springpool.

Mr Kenyon also spoke about the Winstanley Hall plans during his appearance on BBC Question Time on June 4 when an audience member asked about the green belt.

He said on the show: “[The green belt] is something I’ve been right behind, especially the 400 houses in Winstanley just behind Springpool, that’s something that we’re going against, because it’s an extra 1,000 people living in Winstanley.”

But residents who are members of a campaign group called Save Winstanley Greenbelt claimed Mr Kenyon has not made attempts to get involved in their fight.

Deborah Orr, 59, stressed that her comments were made as a local resident and not on behalf of the group itself.

She said: “We’re a non-political community campaign group, we’re just focusing on protecting the green space around Winstanley.

“I’m really active in the group and Robert hasn’t been involved in the campaign or its activities to date with us.

“We were a bit shocked when he said it [on Question Time]. But certainly Josh Simons, the MP who is stepping down, we’ve also met with Andy [Burnham], they’ve been really supportive. The Green Party is very small in the Wigan and Leigh area but they have supported us also.

“That said, we’re not party political, we welcome support from anyone who really wants to help protect the green belt regardless of their political colours.

“For us it’s about the community and making sure local residents are getting heard, it’s not about party politics.

“That’s just me personally, I can’t speak on behalf of others in the group, and if Rob Kenyon wants to come along and help us if he becomes MP then we will welcome his support.”

Deborah Orr explained that she is a member of the Green Party.

Another member of the group, who did not want their name published, said they have lived in the Winstanley area for the last 26 years and are a ‘floating voter’ with no party political membership.

They said: “Rob Kenyon hasn’t had anything to do with it [Save Winstanley Greenbelt], he’s not reached out to us at all.

“The only person who has reached out to us is Andy Burnham, it was two or three days after the by-election was announced.

“The group of people involved in Save Winstanley Greenbelt are from all different political backgrounds.

“The important message to anyone is if you want to contribute, come and talk to us, we have no issue with that from any political colours.”

Responding to the comments, Reform UK accused some members of the Save Winstanley Greenbelt group of making ‘political and public personal attacks on Rob’.

The party said it wants to engage with all local groups on the green belt, and accused Labour’s Makerfield candidate Andy Burnham of being part of the ‘destruction of local green belt’ through the GMCA Places for Everyone housing scheme.

The GMCA describes Places for Everyone as a plan for ‘maximising the use of brownfield land and urban spaces while protecting green belt land from the risk of unplanned development.’

A Reform UK spokesman said: “As a local resident who lives practically next door to the Winstanley Hall site, Rob has been vocally opposed to this development since it was first announced.

“Unfortunately, instead of engaging constructively, leading members of the Save Winstanley Green Belt group have engaged in political and public personal attacks on Rob during this campaign, calling into question their claim that they are a non-political community campaign group.

“Ms Orr herself has appeared on Labour’s campaign literature openly endorsing Andy Burnham and attacking Reform UK.

“These circumstances make any meaningful or constructive engagement difficult.”

Responding, Deborah Orr said: “My personal politics are irrelevant. The group would welcome support from everyone for this campaign as long as they are prepared to listen and understand the issues around the development, which are complex and technical.”

The by-election candidates are: Jake Austin (Liberal Democrats), Count Binface (Count Binface Party), Andy Burnham (Labour and Co-operative Party), Dan Clarke (Libertarian Party), John Dyer (independent), Ed Gemmell (Climate Party), Paul Gould (independent), Howling Laud Hope (Official Monster Raving Loony Party), Rob Kenyon (Reform UK), Robert Pownall (independent), Rebecca Shepherd (Restore Britain), Sarah Wakefield (Green Party), Peter Ward (Rejoin EU Bring in PR) and Michael Winstanley (Conservative).