Hi we are Trees Not Cars MCR!We are a team of ordinary and passionate locals who live and work around Ancoats andOn Thursday 17th October, Manchester City Council’s planning committee voted through controversial plans to use a former retail park in Ancoats as a temporary 440-space car park for up to two years. They ignored 12,200 people who signed our petition to disagree (10,000 of these living in Greater Manchester and 5000 in Manchester city centre). The site is next to a Primary School and along a road with illegal levels of pollution. The planning application for the car park was put forward on the same day the council declared aWe believe the 10.5 acre site should be used for community green space and social housing.You may have noticed the site has STILL not been opened as a car park, that's all thanks to our group.A judge has granted Gemma Cameron, founder of ‘Trees Not Cars’ campaign group, permission to appeal Manchester City Council’s planning decision to use the former Central Retail Park as a temporary charging 24/7 car park for two years. Obtaining permission is very difficult and rare and means the judge believes there are reasonable grounds to challenge the Council’s decision to build a car park.(Former Central Retail Park as seen from Great Ancoats Street during one of our events at the site. The Primary School is the white building behind the boarding.)The funds raised will be used for the legal action and to support the next phase of our campaign to convince the Council that this space should be used for Trees Not Cars.In addition to the students of New Islington Free Primary School and their families, those who live or work in and around Ancoats as well as all in Manchester who would benefit from a 10.5 acre PUBLIC green space! We envision somewhere for all people to exercise their bodies and rest their minds from busy city life.The first court hearing is on 25th March. We'll keep you updated.Check out treesnotcars.com for more information on our visions for the site and any planned events.