FOR Kathleen Gough and her neighbours a small patch of land near their homes is an oasis of greenery in an otherwise built up area.

They claim that the plot of land off Harper Green Road in Farnworth bordered by hawthorn trees is also home to bats and woodpeckers.

But the land will soon be covered up if the council, which owns it, gives a housing association permission to build holiday homes for disabled children there.

Residents from nearby Cawdor Avenue do not object to the plan itself but claim it should be built on a brownfield site instead of green land.

Mrs Gough, a district nurse who lives in Cawdor Avenue, said: "As a nurse I would never object to the plan in principle but it is totally the wrong place.

"Green land is very scarce in Farnworth but when you walk past that piece of natural land it makes you feel good. In the summer it's very pretty with all the hawthorn trees and we know there are bats and woodpeckers there."

The neighbours have sent a total 150 letters of objection to the council.

Carole Crawley, also of Cawdor Avenue, said: "There are plenty of brownfield sites around here which could do with developing but once this is lost it is gone forever.

"We are also worried about the increased traffic which a new development could create. It is not going to be safe."

A council spokesman said: "An application by Portico Housing Association for a four bedroom single storey building has been received. It will be used to provide short breaks for children with disabilities, many of whom are in wheelchairs.

"At the moment the application is still being processed, which includes the gathering of views of local residents, so a date for it to go to committee hasn't been set."