ENVIRONMENTAL campaigners are calling on Bolton Council to protect a strip of land next to Leverhulme Park from development.

The area known as ‘The Cutting’, which was part of the Bolton to Bury train line, is up for auction in June and residents fear that nearby wildlife — including roe deer and great crested newts — will suffer as a result.

Estate agents Edward Mellor have the land, in Long Lane, listed for auction at a price of £175,000 and say that it could be “very lucrative” for the right developer.

But campaigners want the council, as the sole trustee of Leverhulme Park, to buy the land and use it to extend the Bolton to Bury cycle route instead.

Natalie Yates, of the Bolton North East Wildlife Trail, said: “This would be the perfect place to extend the cycle track that connects Bolton and Bury.

“At the moment you have to come off the track and cycle through the housing estate before rejoining, so this would just make sense.

“We have had quite a lot of interest from the public and we will be spreading the word as much as we possibly can. This could become a really beautiful area and there a lot of funding available for schemes from organisations like Sport England.”

The group will be holding a public meeting at the Farmers Arms pub, in Darcy Lever, at 7pm tonight to drum up support for their alternative scheme.

An online petition has already gained more than 250 signatures and the group has written to council bosses to seek their support for the proposal.

She added: “To me, it makes perfect sense to do something positive for the community in that area. If the land is lost and becomes housing, then it will have a big impact on the park and the surrounding area.”

A council spokesman said: “We can confirm we have been contacted by Bolton North East Wildlife Trail and will be considering their proposal.” To view and sign the petition to save The Cutting, visit change.org/p/save-leverhulme-park-wildlife-corridor-the-cutting