FRANK Holstead may be in favour of the latest planning missile in which Birtenshaw farmland (known latterly as Holland gardening centre) is threatened, as he lives in a pleasant backwater in Egerton, unhindered by the prospect of an invasive cacophony emanating from several sports pitches.

Nor will he have to tolerate several hundred vehicle movements per week creating traffic chaos and pollution to serve the proposed activities incompatible with green belt, as they are “not in his backyard”.

I urge the planning committee to remember the hundreds who marched to the town hall in defence of the farmland and who went to the High Court at great health and financial cost to prove to Bolton Council their negative stance on a legal protective document via advice from the then legal department was incorrect.

The judge concluded: “Mrs Blank (a local resident) can be content that the rest of the land (after Bolton has surrendered to a large developer) remains protected in perpetuity.”

This 1934 Ashworth agreement is permanently attached to the deeds of Birtenshaw farmland; thus each subsequent owner inherits the burden of its restrictions.

I call upon Bolton decision-makers, planning officers, planning committee and legal department not to abdicate their responsibilities by way of the old chestnut “special circumstances”.

You have a second chance, so do the honourable thing as custodians and enforce the legally binding covenant.

Name and address supplied.