SIR: The long-awaited decision by Bolton councillors on the future of Red Moss has had to be deferred because, despite repeated requests over several months by the Planning Department to UK Waste for additional information, UK Waste only decided to submit their responses after the deadline and on the morning of the Council meeting.

This company is prepared to dump waste on a Site of Special Scientific Interest in opposition to the professional recommendations of the town's Planning Department and national environmental bodies. Bolton Council wishes to entrust this company with the management of a landfill site of gigantic proportions and the consequent health and safety of its citizens.

Mr Neil Varey, General Manager, when asked what other sites, if any, in Greater Manchester he had considered, would not give a direct answer to the question. If Red Moss is the only suitable site in the whole area and has such a vital role to play in the disposal of Greater Manchester's waste, is the figure of £2,000,000 pa which is bandied about adequate compensation for the loss of an SSSI? If Bolton Council were to put a higher price on the value of an SSSI, say £20,000,000 pa, then they would, at worst, get a fair price for the family silver or perhaps UK Waste would discover that, after all, an alternative site was available and Bolton's SSSI would not have to 'bite the dust'!

Marion Keeler

Cranborne Close, Lostock, Bolton

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