BOLTON council leader Bob Howarth has been challenged to drop proposals for the Red Moss supertip following the decision by the Environment Agency to oppose the scheme.

Bolton West Tory MP Tom Sackville has written an open letter to Cllr Howarth telling him now is the time to admit defeat.

The move follows the decision by the agency - the Government's most powerful environmental watchdog - to lodge a formal objection to the scheme on the

Bolton/Horwich border.

The intervention of the new agency - which amalgamates four former environmental watchdogs - is seen by many as the death knell for the massively unpopular scheme.

Junior Home Office minister Mr Sackville told Mr Howarth in his letter: "I am writing publicly to challenge Bolton Labour Council's continued promotion of the super tip at Red Moss.

"There is overwhelming scientific evidence that if approved the supertip would destroy a unique moss land habitat.

"A now deafening chorus of opposition was joined yesterday by that of a respected environmental body, the Environment Agency. This is further confirmation that a decision to proceed with the supertip would be nothing short of environmental vandalism.

"In addition to the weight of environmental opinion, local residents are almost unanimously opposed to the plans.

"I understand that you have already been sent a petition with some 9,000 signatures of local people opposed to the supertip.

"I have recently received nearly 4,000 replies to a survey of Horwich and Blackrod residents, 96pc of which indicated opposition to the tip.

"In the light of this ground swell of opposition I would challenge you to respect the wishes of local people and reject these plans. "If not, you must come clean and admit that you no longer care about the wishes of people whom some of your labour colleagues claim to represent and to those most affected by the plans and will press ahead with the supertip regardless of local opinion."

Mr Sackville said : "Now the Environment Agency has come out against the Red Moss tip, the time has come for Bolton's Labour Council to admit defeat.

"These plans have met with total opposition of the people of Horwich and Blackrod.

"The council cannot continue with these proposals which would do immense damage to the local environment.

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