A CAMPAIGN is underway to save 15 acres of green land on the Bolton Bury border.

Residents on both side of the boundary have joined forces to oppose a development to build four new football pitches, a new clubhouse and changing facilities.

The plans have been submitted by Westchurch Homes Limited and Bolton Wyresdale Amateur Football club to Bolton Council for consideration.

The development will also include 88 new homes on the club’s current pitches on Inverberg Drive, Breightmet.

The plans have caused controversy because, according to existing planning applications to Bury Council, the area is considered a green space and has been used for grazing.

Residents and local businesses have written to Bolton and Bury Councils to oppose the plans, which would also include car parking for up to 78 vehicles, and four for disabled use.

Gerard Tucker, a resident of Bury New Road, overlooking Radcliffe Moor Road, said: “It’s a significant change of land usage, for an area that is supposed to be green belt, but the housing company would be able to do whatever they want with it.

“We’re concerned about the use of green fields, because it’s such an important area for the environment and nature.

“To go ahead with these plans would just be environmental vandalism, and there are so many important species and wildlife there that need to be protected.

“Not only that, but the area is also a hotspot for traffic and congestion, which would only get so much worse if there are suddenly a lot more cars on the street due to the car parking.

“This is why myself, other residents and local businesses have written to the council to oppose this and do everything we can to make sure it doesn’t go through.

“We’re not camping out on the streets or staging mass protests, but we are sending as many documents and letters of objection in to the council as we can, making moral and legal arguments for why this cannot go ahead.”

As part of the deal between the housing company and football club, have agreed to find an alternative venue for Wyresdale FC, who will relocate from their current site on Inverberg Road.

Wyresdale FC said in an official trustee statement: “The club has suffered through lack of funding for many years and depends entirely on the goodwill of our volunteers who provide their time and skill to maintain the pitches and clubhouse.

“The clubhouse is now virtually unusable due to water ingress problems with the large flat roof.

“Excessive rainfall over recent winters has rendered the first team pitch unplayable for most of the season and drainage experts have advised that due to its location on the lowest point of the site it is impossible to remedy within the wastewater regulations.

“As a result we are currently renting a 3G facility to be able to fulfil our fixtures.

"We have recently performed improvement work on the top pitch but this also suffers from drainage issues.

"There has always been interest from developers to buy the site but we have struggled to find a suitable location to relocate."

A final decision on the development will take place in January, when there can be a full planning committee.

See our previous article on this issue: https://www.burytimes.co.uk/news/19686195.amateur-football-club-unveils-plans-new-home-near-bolton-bury-border/

For more information, visit https://planning.bury.gov.uk/online-applications/applicationDetails.do?activeTab=makeComment&keyVal=_BURY_DCAPR_58565&fbclid=IwAR0yTBN5f_9IATTq_KCRZ0oQjkKFFEGWRwPOaKUd2lBrgAkBaw3p8DhC0aM