ENVIRONMENTAL improvements to rival the Garden of Eden would not be enough to compensate residents for the "mayhem" created by opencast mining, a public inquiry was told.

Government planning inspector Michael Culshaw listened to a catalogue of opposition to plans by RJB Mining to extract two million tonnes of coal from the site of Cutacre Tip on the Over Hulton and Little Hulton border.

Opponents claim that noise, dust vibrations and extra traffic will bring misery to the communities around the tip.

Westhoughton councillor David Chadwick, who is chairman of the Save Westhoughton Act Now (SWAN) group, fears the extra traffic created by the mine could cause serious knock on effects for that area.

He said: "Mayhem is the only word that describes the impact of this mining plan if it goes ahead. Even if RJB could produce the Garden of Eden after they had finished the mining project, it would not compensate for everything we would have to go through."

RJB Mining officials have told the inquiry that their landscaping work would improve the appearance of the area and bring jobs to the area.

Cllr Chadwick claimed that 120 vehicles a day would be using the site of the planned mine.

But Gerald Park, representing RJB, said the number would be much less.

Donald Carney, Little Hulton Community Committee chairman, said the opencast mine would scare families away from the area because of fears about the effects of breathing in coal dust.

He said: "We would be failing in our duties if we did not protect the health and welfare of the children and staff in our local schools.

"The mining plan should be rejected for the sake of our children and the sake of our communities."

John Edge, representing the Greenheys Residents' Association in Little Hulton, said the number of jobs created if the mine went ahead, about 75, "would not even touch the tip of the iceberg of the problems in Little Hulton".

John Booth, of the Over Hulton Anti-Opencast Group, presented a series of photographs to the inquiry, illustrating the open views across the Cutacre tip site.

He said: "Many people find the present environment quite acceptable and not an eyesore at all."

Mr Booth said the number of letters of objection sent in, compared to the number of letters supporting the mine, showed overwhelming public opposition.

A first public inquiry into the plans was held in 1998, but a second inquiry was arranged after new government planning guidelines were published.