A PUBLIC woodland has been saved from being turned into a residential garden as councillors reject plans from the neighbouring property.

The Church Road resident who wanted to buy the piece of land in Smithills has been refused planning permission – although he can still appeal the decision.

Around eight residents came to a town hall meeting on Thursday to object to the application. Doug Cole accused the council of not taking its duty of care for the woodland's animal inhabitants seriously.

The Bernside Road also complained that a new fence with features in the plans would stop light from the road shining into the footpath, making it darker for residents and more dangerous.

He said: “The trees and the greenery in the middle of a housing estate is very important to us. We see hedgehogs regularly, there’s bats at night, there’s crows nests in the tree – we even see the owls at night. It’s nice to wake up in the morning to hear the birds singing in the trees.”

Mr Cole, who used to maintain bowling greens across the borough before he retired, told the committee that grass would not grow under canopies of the tall trees at the site.

He cast doubt over tree preservation orders staying intact if the trees are ever found to be dangerous for children living at the property.

Cllr David Wilkinson agreed, saying that the "little green spot" helps the environment of the local community.

He said: “It may be untidy, it may be a little bit scruffy but that’s the way little wildlife areas are and we should say no to it being a garden and leave it as it is.”

Cllr Elaine Sherrington reminded the committee that people who have gardens are often told to set aside an area to encourage wildlife in their own gardens.

She said: "And yet here we are. We’ve got a natural set aside and we’re willing to let that go to one side because somebody wants a pretty garden.”

Cllr Sean Hornby encouraged the local community to band together and come up with a plan to look after the land and possibly take ownership of it.

Speaking after the meeting, Church Road resident Paul Dutton, confirmed that the residents have started discussions about working together to maintain the woodland.

He also said that there were "no hard feelings" between the neighbours and the applicant, the Singh-Vaghela family.