Dates for inquiry that will decide future of Bolton
8:20am Sunday 15th August 2010 in News
DATES have been set for a public inquiry which will shape the future of Bolton over the next 16 years.
The inquiry into Bolton Council’s “core strategy”
document will include the controversial Cutacre proposals, as well as plans to develop the town centre and Horwich Loco Works.
A government inspector will examine the plans in a month-long series of hearings before deciding whether to approve the document, which sets out the future of Bolton’s planning up to 2026.
It includes future policies on issues such as housing, employment and retail and transport development. The inquiry begins on September 7 with an overview of the proceedings, before moving on to housing, needs, density and affordability on September 8.
Employment and town centre uses will be examined on September 9, the environment on September 14 and infrastructure and monitoring on September 15.
Plans for the M61 corridor, Cutacre and Horwich Loco Works will be heard on September 16, while “other matters”
will be examined on October 14.
Cutacre now features on a website which documents all the green belt land under threat from development across the UK.
Town hall bosses want to turn the open cast mine, near Over Hulton, into a massive industrial estate, despite restoration of the site as a country park being stipulated as a condition before open cast mining was allowed at the site.
Campaigners have submitted details of the plans to the Piece by Piece website, a campaign run by a national newspaper.
Cllr Andy Morgan, who is supporting the protesters, said: “It keeps the matter on the agenda.
“We don’t want people to think it’s done and dusted.
We’re still out there fighting the fight for the residents of Over Hulton.
“All we want is the top quality restoration plan that we were promised originally.”
