WHILE people will always need homes to live in it is very worrying to think that this town is sacrificing yet another important piece of accessible land to a housing development.
The controversial plans to convert historic Grade II listed Smithills Coaching House into eight properties and build a further 21 houses on surrounding green belt land has now been given the official go-ahead.
Many people living close by are understandably upset at the loss of this beautiful area to development and the threat to wildlife there.
There is always a fine line between what is in the best interests of communities when it comes to losing an important area like this. However, if protected land on a heritage site like this cannot somehow be saved for everyone to enjoy, there really seems little hope of keeping any local rural gems.