CAMPAIGNERS are preparing to take their fight against a new housing development to the high court.

Hulton Community Action Group is hoping to raise £15,000 for legal costs to support a judicial review against the developers.

This comes as a government inspector decided to allow up to 250 homes at the playing fields in Eldercot Road following a successful appeal by two developers.

Mike Manville, who chairs the group, will be writing to the planning inspectorate, the Secretary of State and the mayor of Greater Manchester before taking the case to the high court.

He said: “Our community is angry because our concerns over traffic impact on the Eldercot Road/Hulton Lane/Chip Hill Road junction have been ignored.

"They are going to have to accommodate an additional 300 to 400 vehicles at peak times and the inspector has totally ignored these concerns let alone the increased levels of pollution due to this."

The community activist told The Bolton News that the group is seeking legal advice over the loss of "open space" and risks associated with building on a historic landfill.

Mr Manville plans to place an official complaint about the planning inspector accusing her of "neglect" around the long-term risks of disturbing the soil at the landfill site which is only 50 years old.

He will also be writing to the new Conservative council leader David Greenhalgh to highlight the community's disagreement and ask for further support in trying to reverse the decision.

Bolton Council's decisions to refuse permission for developments at the much-loved playing fields were overturned by inspector Siobhan Watson following an inquiry last month.

She said: “For both appeals, I find no material harm to highway safety. My overall finding is that both proposals would not have a materially adverse impact upon the provision of open space. Both proposals would conform to development plan policy and would add to the supply of housing. I therefore conclude that both appeals should succeed.”

Landowner Eden Land’s initial plans, which were refused by Bolton Council in July 2018, would see up to 250 homes built at the site.

New plans to build 234 homes were submitted by MCI Developments in September but were also thrown out.

Director Andy Garnett spoke to The Bolton News before the plans were thrown out by the planning committee, responding to campaigner's concerns about contamination.

He said: “Yes, it’s a landfill site. We’ve built on far worse. It’s not the case that the site is undevelopable.”