PROTESTORS will turn out in force this weekend to demonstrate against plans to build a cycle track on a Breightmet playing field.

Bolton Council wants to build a fenced off cycling track at the field at Newhouse Farm — but local residents have long argued that it is the wrong location for such a scheme.

Plans were originally submitted last year — but a revised application was proposed in March, including a smaller track measuring 1.038 metres.

If approved, the facility will include a perimeter steel fence around it which will measure 1.2 metres in height the majority of the way round — reaching 3 metres in one section.

The authority said the scheme is designed to increase cycling, and provide a community facility for the town's growing cycle and fitness clubs.

But local residents believe it will create a number of issues including affecting the privacy and comfort of people living nearby, traffic, the potential for damaging important wildlife habitats and the prospect of the track being vandalised.

They believe it would be more appropriate to base the track in the nearby Leverhulme Park and have invited hundreds of local people to join the protest at the Newhouse Farm field on Saturday at 2pm.

Protestor Adam Rowinski, 54, who lives in the nearby Brodick Drive, said: “We have delivered leaflets to 500 people living in the area and are hopeful that lots of people will come down to support us.

“People are very upset and concerned about these plans — they are worried the fencing will look like a prison camp right outside their homes. We know that in such an isolated spot, as soon as the lights go out it is going to get trashed

“We are not against building a cycle track, but it should not be done in this phenomenal green space, which has great nature and provides a great place for families to walk and for people to play all kinds of sports.”

A spokesman for Bolton Council said: “We are currently consulting on the planning application and any representations received on planning grounds, will be considered. As with any planning application, the work is subject to approval and this application will ultimately be decided by planning committee.”