PENSIONERS have slammed the council for disposing of a popular park in Bolton without prior notice or a borough-wide consultation.

The plans to turn Haslam Park, in Deane, into a secondary school were put forward by Bolton council earlier this year in a bid to tackle the chronic shortage of secondary school places in the borough.

The land has been relinquished to the department for education.

Bolton and District Pensioners Association discovered in their last meeting in November that Haslam Park had been disposed of and steps to apply for planning permission were set to go ahead.

Secretary of the Bolton Pensioners Association, Bernadette Gallagher, said: “At our last meeting, we questioned the legitimacy of one individual, Cllr Adele Warren, having the power to dispose of a public park.

“Morally, it doesn’t seem right that the council can dispose of a park without public consultation.

“The park is located in the heart of a dense urban area.

“The council said it plans to reinstate the park on Atkinsons Farm.

“But you can’t replace trees that have been there for decades.”

The Chairman of the Pensioners Association, Alan Johnson, said: “This is a prime example of a campaign which unites older people and younger people.

“We are aware of the shortage of school places in Bolton but we are of the view that Cllr Warren has failed to explore other brown field sites and a public park should never be a trade off for a school.

“The public health and wellbeing of local residents should be sacrosanct.”

A local resident who has lived in Rumworth Ward for decades, Joan Pritchard Jones, said: “I played on the park as a child and I have taken my children and grandchildren to play in the park.

“And in the week climate change discussions took place in Glasgow, Bolton Council dispose of a public park.

“The park celebrates its centenary next year.

“Any so-called masterplan to reinstate a park can’t replace trees which are decades old.”

The Bolton and District Pensioners Association campaigns on intergenerational issues that matter to residents across the borough.

Some 200 people took part in a rally in Haslam Park in October to oppose plans to turn the park into a multi-million pound school.