A DECISION on whether a beloved estate will be turned into a Ryder Cup golf course and 1,000 homes will be made today.

Protestors will flock to the town hall to demonstrate against Peel Land and Property's proposal for the Grade II-Listed Hulton Park, which is due to go before Bolton Council's planning committee at 2pm.

The application drew widespread outrage from the community, as well as from former Westhoughton High School pupil Maxine Peake.

The treasured estate has attracted interest from Oscar-winning writer Julian Fellowes — the great grandson of Maria Hulton, whose family owned the land.

Peel's plan is for Hulton Park to host the Ryder Cup in 2026.

The development, which would also include a luxury hotel, would not be built if the bid failed.

Members of campaign group Hulton Estate Area Residents Together (HEART) will be demonstrating outside the town hall at 12.30pm.

Bolton West MP Chris Green issued a rallying cry in a video to Facebook in which he urged people to join a protest.

He said: “Please be there, and stay there for the council meeting as well, to show how much local concern there is.

“We’re over-developed already, there’s huge pressure on local resources, local infrastructure and local roads. It’s your opportunity to protect the area.”

In a recent statement, a spokesman from Peel Land and Property said: "The event brings with it both major social and economic benefits and the potential for a lasting, positive legacy for the host area, including training opportunities for local people, job creation, increased sports participation, and health and wellbeing benefits."

The planning committee meeting will be held in the council chamber.

Because of the number of people expected, it will be screened in the Festival Hall, but there will be no access to the public gallery.

The council says the decision has been taken 'to avoid any disappointment if people are not able to get a seat in the gallery'.

But Alan Johnson, of HEART, has branded it a 'pitiful excuse'.

He said: "A lot of people are annoyed about this, I'm really annoyed. The public gallery is for members of the public provided everyone has got a seat.

"We know we can watch it on video-link but to not allow so many people to be in the public gallery and watch what's going on, I think it's an affront to local democracy."

Tickets for the Festival Hall will be issued on a first come, first serve basis from 1.30pm.

It will also be shown online at bolton.public-i.tv/core/portal/home