THE fight has been launched to protect greenbelt land around the controversial Cutacre site.

Neighbours living close to the site at Over Hulton face an anxious 12-month wait to learn what the redevelopment of the land will mean for their local area.

Earlier this month, the Government’s Planning Inspector approved Bolton Council’s core strategy, a document which essentially paves the way for development to take place.

But, while the inspector agreed to revised proposals, which will see less of the open mine site redeveloped for job creation — 80 hectares instead of the originally proposed 144 hectares — he failed to set a boundary, leading to fears that any development could be made along the A6 edge of the site.

Hulton councillors Andy Morgan, Phil Ashcroft and Alan Walsh have told residents they are committed to ensuring there is a green belt “buffer zone”

between any industrial development and Over Hulton.

Cllr Morgan said: “The sting in the tale is the 80 hectares should be “usable” and the haggling now starts about where the boundary for the 80 hectares will be.

“Residents can rest assured that as your ward councillors — myself, Phil Ashcroft and Alan Walsh—we will do all we can to ensure the greenbelt buffer between the proposed site and the boundary of Over Hulton is kept to a maximum.”

The core strategy document, which also sets out the vision for Bolton town centre and the Horwich Loco Works over the next 15 years, is expected to be adopted by the council in March.

The authority will then produce a draft allocations plan, which will set out which parts of Cutacre can be used for development.

That plan will be published late this year or early next year and will then be the subject to an examination by the Planning Inspector.

If given the green light by the inspector, the council will then vote to adopt the allocations plan. Residents will have the chance to make representations at every stage of the process.