HULTON residents have joined forces to speak out against plans to build 1,200 properties alongside a championship golf course on a sprawling estate near their homes.

Fears over the future of Hulton Park Estate were at the heart of a public meeting tonight.

Residents packed out the Hulton Area Forum in an attempt to find answers to their concerns over what Peel Holdings had in store for the site.

The property giant recently outlined its vision for creating an 18-hole golf course on the estate which includes the new housing, adding to proposals for a 1,700-home development near to the Chequerbent roundabout.

While reaction to plans for the golf course are mixed, with no formal planning application submitted to Bolton Council, the lack of information has increased concerns.

Denise Sullivan, who lives in Hilltop which neighbours the park, said: “It is difficult to be objective about it. This area has been badly let down by the council and by Peel Holdings because of the inaccuracy in the information.

“I do think there is a massive, massive element of distrust.

“There is an issue of trust with Peel Holdings. Will there even be a golf course? Is it pie in the sky? There’s a trust issue with the council, the people who make this decision at the top.

“Yes I think a golf course would be nice but it’s a risk in this area because of the congestion. It would impact everywhere in terms of transport and travelling.”

Residents argued that, despite Peel holding a meeting to share the proposals, the plans were vague in areas such as how it would impact on local infrastructure.

There were also questions about how far along the plans had come, with many believing they could be put forward to council planners by the end of November.

A resident of Broadway, who did not wished to be named, added: “You can feel the animosity in this room and we have only known about this for a week, it is going to grow and grow.

“I completely understand we have jumped this on you tonight but we need people who can give us some definitive answers.”

People living in and around Broadway have established a small campaign group to discuss issues from the proposals which residents want to address.

Another action group Hulton Estate Area Residents Together (HEART) has also formed as a means of addressing Peel’s plans.

Councillors at tonight’s area forum confirmed they would hold a separate public meeting on the proposal before December, with the date to be announced.

Darren Whitehead told the meeting that the councillors were united in their determination to have their residents’ concerns answered and warned against jumping to conclusions.

He said: “We do not yet know on paper the facts and a publicity campaign by Peel has been started before an actual proposal.

“It is conjecture and it is worrying and deeply regrettable. Peel Holdings is entitled to do what it is doing but it is not part of any formal process yet.

 “What I want to see is the facts and figures so we can draw up how best to deal with it.”