Peace Centre plans put on hold

7:58am Friday 8th February 2008

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A DECISION on whether the country's first peace centre will be built in Bolton has been put on hold.

The borough's planning chiefs have said they support the concept of the centre, proposed for the site of the former Burnthwaite Children's Home off Old Hall Lane, Lostock.

But following a site visit and a Bolton Council planning committee meeting yesterday, the plans were deferred to allow for talks on improving Old Hall Lane - an ancient track wide enough for only one vehicle - to help cater for the vehicles of up to 60 visitors a day.

Conservative councillors called for the plans to be refused, arguing that any work to improve the track and introduce passing places would affect hedgerows and destroy the character of the area.

But they were out-voted by Labour and Liberal Democrat members, who called for talks on a compromise.

The centre, inspired by the 2001 attack on the World Trace Centre in New York, USA, would be built by the United Religious Initiative, a global multi-faith forum that aims to end religious violence.

The URI claims the building and its woodland setting would provide a haven for people of different faiths to meet, pray and discuss matters of a spiritual, ethical and ecological nature.

There would be public access and it would include 20 parking spaces, meeting rooms, conference and exhibition space, a cafe and toilets.

George Lane, a spokesman for URI, which has a similar centre in San Francisco, said visitors would be encouraged to use public transport.

"We recognise the perfectly reasonable concerns of residents and once we have gone through this stage there will be full consultation including them," he said.

"This project's very ethos is rooted in respect for the environment, people of all faiths and no religious affiliation and respect for neighbours and the local community."

Residents had submitted a 106-name petition raising fears the nearby roads and access would not cope with the increased traffic.

Vanessa Openshaw, of nearby Burnthwaite Cottage, said she did not believe the plans met the "very special circumstances" required to develop green-belt land.

She said: "The council's highways engineers have stated that the width and road surface of Old Hall Lane make it unsuitable for intensification of use.

"Making up the road and creating passing places would destroy the character and appearance of the area and the nearest bus stop is three-quarters of a mile away."

Supporting a call for deferral Labour councillor Madeline Murray said: "This concept is the most exciting I have sat through for a while. I think it's wonderful and is preferable to housing on the site."

But for Conservative councillor Pat Allen said: "We had great difficulty just getting to the site on the planning bus to have a look at it and had to walk a great distance. Because of the access this application should be dead in the water."