AN MP says that talk of bringing the Ryder Cup to Bolton is ‘probably a ruse’ by developers who want to build homes on green belt land at Hulton Park Estate.

Yasmin Qureshi, Bolton South East MP and Shadow Justice Minister is one of hundreds of people to have written letters of objection about the controversial plans of Peel Land and Property for a £240 million world-class golf course which it is claimed could host the Ryder Cup at the 645-acre estate.

The plan includes a luxury hotel and 1,000 homes.

Ms Qureshi said: “I do think the Ryder Cup is probably a ruse because realistically I don’t think it will be coming to Bolton. I believe that this application is simply a means to obtain permission to build houses on the land and do not believe that the proposed development would provide sufficient benefit to the local area to allow it to go ahead.

“I do not believe that it is necessary to build residential properties on this site to support the leisure development – there are more than enough brownfield sites in the Bolton and Wigan boroughs to provide for housing development.

“There is a great weight of opposition from residents and I am in agreement with them that this application should be refused.”Ms Qureshi’s letter of objection highlights issues surrounding traffic and transport, parking, road safety, local services, housing and geology.“I am hoping the local authority will listen to what we have to say and I hope that our efforts will work. I’m hoping that they will take notice of all the correspondents.

She said: “If the plans are accepted they will have a massive impact. There will be a lot more congestion than before and people will have issues travelling.”

She added: “There are several golf courses in the Bolton area and I do not believe that another one is needed.”

A community group formed to oppose the plans, Hulton Estate Area Residents Together (HEART), last week delivered another 960 letters of objection to the Bolton Council One Stop Shop.

Stephen Hall, a member of HEART, said: “They were just the ones that we hand-delivered so I can almost guarantee that all in all there will more than 1,000 objections to the proposals.”

Yesterday the group held an organised walk aimed at raising awareness of the natural beauty of the land, which is free to be enjoyed by the public. About 100 people took part.

Mr Hall added: “We came up with the idea of bringing people over to the estate and give them a guided walk.

“This is our third walk so far and in all of them there are scores of people, some who have lived in the area for 40 years, who did not know that the walkways were accessible to the public.

“I have lived here most of my life and it would be so sad to see it disappear. It’s an historic gem and we are very lucky to have it on our doorstep.”

Sandra Hesketh, another organiser, said: “Why do the landowners say they need to build over 1,000 houses to subsidise the golf course?

“Saying that the Ryder Cup will come is a red herring because it’s the only way that Peel can get past the national policy of building houses on green belt land.

“People here are angry. None of the housing that they propose to build on this land will be affordable for the people in this area.”

Paul Haworth, whose house backs on to the land that is earmarked for the new houses, said: “I have believed that the golf course was a ploy since day one because it is the special circumstance they need that will allow them to build on green belt land.”

It is not known yet when a decision is due to be made on the proposals.

To view Yasmin Qureshi’s report in full, visit https://d3n8a8pro7vhmx.cloudfront.net/labourclp265/pages/399/attachments/original/1501243245/HultonParkObjectionLetter.pdf?1501243245

For more information about HEART, visit the Facebook page at www.facebook.com/groups/167384520386336/205641766560611/