IN reply to Mr A J Cordner in the Bolton Evening News on March 23.
Of course, my husband, Councillor Donald Carr, is not against the disabled having fishing facilities -- in fact, the opposite.
He merely wishes to question whether the scheme (100 parking spaces and fishing points for the disabled at Bradshaw Fisheries) is genuinely required by disabled when there are already fishing facilities for the disabled at the Jumbles and Wayoh reservoirs.
My husband asked if a survey had been done as to how many disabled people would be using the site and the answer was "no". This number of car parking spaces is going to affect the local wildlife and landscape considerably.
As to Birtenshaw -- my husband first spoke in defence of this land in the early '70s when he was a councillor on the Turton Urban District Council. The Bolton Evening News published his picture, taken on the land, and an article, when another major developer proposed development. It was refused at local and county level on the grounds of the covenant.
As to the events regarding Birtenshaw around 1989 -- although my husband had resigned as a councillor in the early '80s as we had young children, he not only stood on the land but slept on it when bulldozers first invaded.
He spoke at several meetings and marched with several thousand residents and spoke on the Town Hall steps along with campaigners and other councillors and MPs. He also collected and gave money towards the campaigners' court fees that proved the covenant was a legal document -- the opposite to legal advice sought by the council.
Regarding traffic in the area -- he has spoken out over the years, on many occasions, about the foreseeable increase in traffic that goes along with development.
Last but not least, he, along with residents just before Easter, still had to defend the relevance of the 1934 covenant when planning officers were initially recommending prior approval for a 15-metre telecommunications mast, with cabin and three antennae and 300mm dish, at Holland Nursery, Darwen Road. Thankfully, this was refused on the day. In answer to your question, Mr Cordner, that's where my husband was and is.
Mrs Sue Carr
Grange Road
Bolton
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereComments are closed on this article