CAMPAIGNERS will discover the future of a ‘beautiful’ wildlife corridor next week.

The area known as ‘The Cutting’, next to Leverhulme Park, goes up for auction on Monday and an environmental group has called for it to be saved to protect wildlife.

Auctioneers Edward Mellor say the land, in Long Lane, could be “very lucrative” for the right developer — but Bolton North East Wildlife Trail (NEWT) members want Bolton Council to buy it up instead.

They have now won the support of councillors in Breightmet and Darcy Lever and asked the council what can be done to stop houses being built in the area, which was part of the Bolton to Bury train line.

Cllr Debbie Newall said: “I think it is an absolutely lovely spot. I met with the residents last week and the proposals they were putting forward were wonderful.

“If the council can buy the land then it would be great. We have made the request to the council and we are waiting to see what happens.

“I am firmly with the residents in terms of what a great asset it is for the area.”

Fellow Breightmet councillor John Byrne said that he was supportive of the plans presented by the group, but added that the future of the land would be dependent on whether the council had the funds to buy it — a matter he had left council officers to deal with.

UKIP councillor Sean Hornby added: “It is a beautiful area, it is like being in a different world. I fully support the wishes of Bolton NEWT. To try and build houses in that area would cause a massive amount of disruption. I would go along with the idea of the council buying the land, 100 per cent.”

Natalie Yates, of Bolton NEWT, said: “The councillors we have spoken to have all been really passionate about it.

“The response we have had to this campaign has been fabulous. We have had 3,500 people sign our petition and made a video that has been viewed more than 60,000 times.”

The group has suggested using the land to extend the Bolton to Bury cycle route.

A council spokesman said: “We have been approached by some residents to purchase this land and have replied to say that we are considering it.”