A public meeting is to be held on Sunday to debate controversial plans by the local Jewish community to construct a 12-mile boundary in Hale and Hale Barns.
Known as an “eruv”, the proposed boundary will cover five square miles – virtually all of Hale and Hale Barns.
Only the ninth such boundary of its kind in the UK, it is described as “a continuous boundary” to allow the Jewish community “to carry on the Jewish Sabbath by denoting the area of the Eruv as a single unified domain for the purposes of Jewish rabbinic observance”.
Although a website set up to explain the purpose of the boundary claims that “99%” of the eruv already exists naturally or through existing features, the project will involve the installation of:
- 85 six-metre poles
- 32 four-metre poles
- Two three-metre wooden poles and tie bar
- Approximately 700–800m of one-metre-tall fencing or fencing repairs
- One footpath gate
The website does however claim that the boundary “would visually go unnoticed” and that it would lead to “no restriction on any activity within the greater community”.
A statement on the website adds: “An Eruv is a continuous boundary designed in accordance with Jewish Law.
“Whereas Jewish Law prohibits Orthodox Jews from carrying on the Sabbath day, carrying is permitted within the Eruv, as is the use of pushchairs and wheelchairs etc.
“As the Hale Jewish community continues to grow and thrive, we seek to use the Eruv as a means of allowing greater mobility for those with young families and the less mobile within our community, including the elderly and the disabled so that they can play a full part in communal activities at all times during the week.
“The Eruv boundary is formed by utilising continuous local features such as fences or walls alongside roads, railway boundaries and buildings. However, where this continuity is not possible due to roads, then this must be integrated by the erection of a notional ‘gateway’. Such a gateway consists of posts or poles linked on top by a wire crossing the top or the placement of a gate where more appropriate. The posts are of the slenderest dimensions to meet highways structural requirements and the wire of very small diameter.”
A planning application will be made for the works required.
Below: The map of the proposed boundary – a bigger version can be viewed here
Over 100 comments have already been left on the Hale Eruv website, with many objecting to the proposal.
Arthur Merrick says he is “troubled that you see the necessity to erect a ‘religious wall’ around a secular community”, while another commenter, Julian, says the plans are “simply outrageous”.
Others, such as Mr & Mrs R Ashby, also pointed out that an initial consultation letter advising of the project was only sent out to around 150 households directly affected by the required works, whereas there are thousands of people within the proposed boundary area.
There’s also support for the project on the comments board, with Linda Price calling it a “worthwhile project” while Cassandra Horwich says that “we live in a religiously tolerant society (mostly) and this is another expression of diversity and acceptance”.
A meeting to discuss the proposals will be held Manchester Airport Marriot Hotel on Hale Road at 8pm on Sunday 30th November.
Below: Poles installed in other UK eruvs
