A green space could be designated a village green to protect it for future generations to enjoy.

Friends of Horrocks Fold have put forward an application to change the status of the piece of land of the same name, off Belmont Road and Templecombe Road estate so it cannot be developed on.

Their application has been backed by Astley Bridge councillors.

Cllr Samuel Rimmer says that if the application is approved that the land will be protected from “development and grant local residents the right to use the land for recreational use”.

He added: “As ward  councillors, we have written to the council supporting this application.”

Cllr John Walsh explained that when the Templecombe estate was first designed in the 1980s, that the land was intended to be a public space on green land and part of the community.

The Bolton News: Close to where many residents liveClose to where many residents live (Image: Newsquest)

He added: “The council maintained the land as a public space for twelve years, but a major rail infrastructure company tried to sell off this land make money from it.

“And residents were upset because this land has been used for dog walking for 30 years or more and recreational use.

“It’s absolutely right.

“It was never intended to be built upon, and has been regarded as a public open space for so long.

“I am very happy to support it.”

On being asked if he thought the plan to protect the area was a good idea, local resident John Finnan, aged 56, said: "I think so.

"I put a petition in about it.

“It would be a shame to build on it.

"All these fields around here, these really are the last part of Bolton at this end.

"We need to try and keep as much ground as we can."

Another local resident said: "I'm a signature on the petition.

The Bolton News: Many of the residents are passionate and would be sad to see this land not protectedMany of the residents are passionate and would be sad to see this land not protected (Image: Newsquest)

"I would like to keep it.

"I have walked my dogs down here for around 30 to 40 years.

"It's so good because there's access to it from different angles, so a lot of people get a lot of pleasure out of it.

"It's always been what I would call a green belt."

The land has been used for recreational use ever since the maintenance was withdrawn.

For it to be considered a village green, it will have to demonstrate that a “significant number of inhabitants of any locality, or of any neighbourhood within a locality, have indulged in sports and pastimes on the land for a period of at least 20 years; and they continue to do so at the time of the application”.

Cllr Hilary Fairclough said: “I think it’s really important for them.

“It’s an area of land that’s very well used and residents are very keen to protect it.

“It has been looked at unofficially as a village green for many years.

“It would give them the confidence because unfortunately things happen.

“And it would be nice for it to be recognised as a village green to give them peace of mind.”

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