AS a borough councillor representing Horwich, I believe a Neighbourhood Plan for Horwich would be very beneficial.

Horwich Town Council or any community group can formulate a Neighbourhood Plan in relation to planning matters.

I am supporting the Horwich First Community Action group in calling for a Plan and I hope Horwich Council will agree to formulate one.

Blackrod Town Council is currently going through this process so there is no reason why Horwich cannot do the same.

A very worrying situation occurred recently in Blackrod whereby an area of Protected Open Land will be built on for housing. Horwich Golf Course off Victoria Road has the same status as Protected Open Land (not Green Belt) and it is rumoured that it owners in the future may wish to build housing on it.

I believe that a precedent has now been set in Blackrod for building on Protected Open Land and this unfortunately means that it would be much easier for a developer to build on Horwich Golf Course.

We therefore need to have our skittles lined up and do everything possible to prevent this.

A Neighbourhood Plan for Horwich will definitely help and could identify the golf course as an area of land which the community does not wish to see developed. It can also identify iconic buildings in Horwich which do not have listed status, but which the local community would not wish to lose.

I have a degree in Environmental Studies and a post graduate diploma in Environmental Resource Management so the protection of our green open spaces is my highest priority. I will therefore campaign against any future development of Horwich Golf Course.

Cllr Richard Silvester

Labour & Co-operative

Horwich North East Ward

Bolton Council