ON behalf of the organisers of the petition opposing application 65300/03 for a proposed pub/restaurant on Moss Bank Park, I would wish to thank everyone who took the opportunity to sign the petition.

The response has been truly amazing, with 1379 signatures handed over to Bolton Council on Friday, August 15, and a further acceleration in signatures since, of a further 624 signatures, handed in on Tuesday, August 19.

We hope the Planning Committee and council take note not only of the significant total of 2003 objections in the petition, but also the numerous individual letters of objection submitted during the course of the last three weeks. The proposal has certainly galvanised not only local residents, but also the numerous visitors to the park who object to the proposal on grounds of unsuitability.

The groundswell of opposition has been close to 99 per cent of all individuals canvassed, with the main objections being based on the improper and ill-judged siting of licensed premises on a family/children's park, the loss of mature trees with an indigenous population of bats (a protected species), the inevitability of increased traffic congestion in the area and the commercialisation of recreational areas for profit motive.

We truly hope our elected representatives will take heed of the message sent to them by so many individuals and we now wait with anticipation for the results of their deliberations.

Edward Kozaczek

Croft Dell

Barrow Bridge, Bolton