RESIDENTS who live near to a Bolton park which developers want to convert into an international golf resort are ‘heartbroken’ over new proposals launched last week.

Last summer, the Government approved plans for more than 1,000 homes, a hotel and a golf course to be built on Hulton Park Estate - on condition it wins a bid to host the Ryder Cup in 2031 or 2035.

Since securing planning permission, the project team says it has reviewed feedback from the community to consider how it can ‘better reflect local aspirations’ for Hulton Park - and launched a new consultation.

But residents have expressed their anger over the plans, citing a pressure on transport and public services, and fears of Grade II listed buildings and the environment being destroyed as main reasons for their continued objections.

David Chadwick, chairman of Hulton Estate Area Residents Together (HEART), says the group ‘will fight tooth and nail’ to ensure the plans do not go ahead.

He said: “We will wait with bated breath to find out whether the Ryder Cup bid is successful - but I sincerely hope it doesn’t and I know that a lot of local people feel the same. We have not been involved in any discussion about these new plans so far but we will be making our voices heard in the new consultation.”

Sylvia Pendlebury, one of HEART’s first members, is worried the planned new homes will result in a strain on public services.

She said: “You’ve got more chance of winning the lottery than getting a doctors or dentist appointment around here. Roads, traffic and pollution are all major problems around here, and they would just be made worse by these new plans.

“Never in a month of Sundays do I think the Ryder Cup will come to Bolton. We won’t take this lying down.”

Carolyne Bevis, 57, added: “It’s heartbreaking. There’s a lot of ill feeling in the community about all this.

“No matter what they say, they are still digging up green belt land - and that’s the main issue a lot of residents have.”

Richard Knight, Peel L&P’s director of land and communities, said: “We recognise the importance of access to the Hulton Park Estate and our refreshed vision aims to ensure that local people are able to enjoy the Park in a way they have never been able to and for generations to come.