A STEERING committee is being formed by residents who are opposed to plans for 250 houses at a recreation ground in Daubhill.

Around 30 residents attended the second meeting of the newly formed Hulton Community Group tonight (April 16).

The group is now forming a strategy to combat an outline planning application for 250 'family homes' at a green space just north of Hulton Lane Playing Fields, off Eldercot Road.

Under plans, new access would be created off Eldercot Road, and the existing rounders pitch would also be relocated and pavilion refurbished.

Michelle Clarkson, who chaired the meeting, said: "We have been using this land for more than 40 years and we do not want to share it with 250 people.

"We are calling for residents to send their letters of objection to Bolton Council.

"Post on our new Facebook group and make it known that you use the site and why you want to keep it - the infrastructure, the traffic, the loss of green space - all that matters.

"The council needs to know they have a fight on their hands."

Key concerns raised by the group included the loss of recreation space, impact on wildlife, loss of privacy, flooding, increased traffic and insufficient infrastructure to support 250 new homes.

Following initial consultations, Sport England has objected to the proposal on the grounds that developers have outlined plans to replace an existing playing field with one that is approximately 3,848sqm smaller.

The pitches are used by Hulton Ladies, Wallys Dollys and Wallys Eleven, with training take place every week.

The consultee response reads: "No replacement playing field to an equivalent or greater quantity or equivalent or better quality has been proposed, only a reduced area that can only accommodate one rounders pitch."

Several residents who attended the meeting at Hulton Lane Community Centre contributed financially for the group to become a member of the Open Spaces Society.

The group provides legal support and defends open spaces against loss and pressures from development.

It is understood that Yasmin Qureshi, MP for Bolton South East, has also offered her support to residents.

In a planning statement submitted with the application, the developer said: "The site is formally allocated as a playing field in the (Bolton Council) development plan.

"However the majority of the site has not been in active sports use for a number of years.

"The active element of the site (the rounder’s pitch) is in poor condition. The development of this site for housing will allow for the replacement and improvement of these facilities.

"These proposals will also ensure that the youth club/changing facilities building that is located on this site has a long term future capable of serving local clubs."

A steering committee is due to be formed in the next few days and a meeting will be scheduled in one week. A larger residents' meeting will be held at 6pm on Monday, April 30.

The deadline for comments on the application has been extended to Thursday, May 10.

A decision on the plans will then be made by the Bolton Council planning committee.

For more information, search for reference number 03053/18 on the planning portal at bolton.gov.uk