A MASSIVE crowd of more than 400 furious residents packed into Bolton Town Hall to protest about controversial plans to turn greenbelt land into an industrial estate.

On a night when England booked their place in the World Cup finals, hundreds of people instead spent the evening lambasting the council about the Cutacre open cast mining site between Little Hulton and Over Hulton.

The council had set out 280 chairs in the Festival Hall, but throngs of people found standing room only at the back of the hall.

Besieged council officers were greeted with jeers as they tried to explain how “exceptional circumstances” meant that they were recommending the destruction of a large tract of Bolton’s greenbelt, including a site of biological importance.

Residents were cheered as they made their case for the preservation of the area, which they say is home to a number of protected species, including great crested newts. Some speakers took to the stage, to rapturous applause, as they pointed out which areas were under threat.

Over Hulton resident Tony Webster said: “If this plan goes in, we believe EU and British law will be thrown out of the window in relationship to biodiversity. So I ask, what do we want?”

“Newts!” shouted one member of the public.

Protesters say they were promised the open cast mine, owned by UK Coal, would be turned into a country park when short-term coal extraction started there in 2006. A planning document produced at the time contains a 10-page section detailing trees to be planted.

Anne Hamilton, of Little Hulton, said: “We had the inspector down when UK Coal started. He came and said when it was finished this land will be put back to what it was before. How can that be overruled?”

Ann Penny, chair of the Over Hulton Community Group, said: “This is a lot more than a bit of greenbelt. How can you go against your own policy? It just beggars belief.”

The council’s chief planning officer, Tim Hill, said Cutacre, along with Horwich Loco Works and the town centre, were three sites which could secure Bolton’s economic growth over the next 15 to 20 years. He said: “We have identified a need for 175 to 195 hectares of additional employment land needed up to 2026. Cutacre is a very important part from the perspective of delivering that land.”

Keith Davies, director of development and regeneration, said if the plan was not accepted, the council must look outside Bolton for employment land.

Cllr Andy Morgan, chairing the meeting, said he supported the residents and it was vital the plan was stopped. He said: “We believe there aren’t exceptional circumstances and therefore they can’t do it.”

He and Cllr Phil Ashcroft and Cllr Alan Walsh called on people to lobby councillors when they are asked to approve the plans in December.

The council has now extended the consultation period on the Cutacre plan until September 30. Comments can be sent by e-mail to: ldfconsultation @bolton.gov.uk or by post to: Spatial Planning Team, 5th Floor, Bolton Town Hall, Bolton, BL1 1RU.

julian.thorpe@the boltonnews.co.uk