THE battle for Spen Moor is set to rage into the new century as Radcliffe residents fight to save their green and pleasant land.

Peel Investments (North) Ltd, which successfully challenged Bury Council's Green Belt protection of the land, has applied for permission to build 170 homes.

The matter is expected to go before Bury's planning committee at its next meeting on January 18.

However, local residents associations are gearing up to fight Peel Investments in a bid to stop the proposed development off Bolton Road.

Sunningdale Close Residents' Group and the Three Arrows Residents' Association (TARA) is expected to be at the forefront of the battle for Spen Moor which has been classified by the Unitary Development Plan public inquiry inspector and the Court of Appeal as Open Land.

Mr George Kelly, the spokesman for TARA, said: "Not withstanding the court decision, the well being, health and amenity of the immediate area requires Spen Moor to remain as part of a lung of open countryside between Bury and Bolton so as to preserve it for future generations."

He said southern Bury had already given more than its fair share toward the provision of housing and that it was essential that further development should only take place on Brown Field (unused industrial/housing) sites - a move backed by the government.

Estimate

Mrs Carol Hill of the Residents' Group of Sunningdale Close painted a darker picture of post-Spen Moor development, claiming road users and education would suffer.

She said: "If this development goes ahead people should consider what the possible consequences are.

"Firstly, if we use a conservative estimate of one-and-a-half cars per household, this would mean an additional 255 cars using the Bolton/Bury Road. Congestion on this road is already very bad.

"Secondly, again at a conservative estimate, there will be an additional 200 children moving into the area. Parents are already aware of the fact that most local schools are full."

Bury Council sees Spen Moor as a vital area of land to stop urban sprawl between the town and Bolton.

Local residents are being urged to write to Bury's planning department to register their opposition to the Spen Moor development.

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