SEVENTEEN council owned sites around Bolton are to be sold off with nearly £1M set to be raised.

Some of the land parcels are expected to be used for residential development while others have been released on long leases for grazing land.

One site to be sold off, west of Bradshaw Road is listed as being used as a fishery.

Other plots include land at Trinity Gateway, Great Lever, which is earmarked for housing development, while a site north of Wigan Road will be leased for 999 years with a restriction on use as grazing land.

Another area at Unity Brook, Manchester Road, Kearsley, which is freehold land, is to be sold for grazing subject to payment of £147,250.

Other sites included in the sell-off are area on Lorne Street, Farnworth, Emlyn Street, Farnworth, Darley Court, Halliwell, Chorley Street, Halliwell, Stapleton Avenue, Heaton, New Brunswick Street, Horwich, Stoneclough Road, Kearsley, Hatherleigh Way, Little Lever, Lever Street, Little Lever, Church Street garage colony, Little Lever, Romer Street, Tonge, land at Wingates in Westhoughton and The Fairways, Westhoughton.

The decision to sell off the parcels of land was made this week under Bolton Council’s strategic asset management plan and disposal policy.

A decision on whether to sell four other sites, which were set to raise an additional £700,000, has been postponed after objections were raised by ward councillors and residents.

Those sites at Albert Street, Farnworth, Plodder Lane, Farnworth, Francis Street, Farnworth and Oakenbottom Road, Breightmet, have been removed from the 21 that went out for consultation.

A report was presented to the cabinet member for regeneration, Coun Adele Warren, who made the decision, by the council’s director of place, Gerry Brough.

He said: “If we do nothing, the sites will remain vacant and will continue to be a liability for the council in terms of maintenance liabilities with no financial generation.

“The disposal of these sites will generate a capital receipt estimated to be in the region of £900,000, subject to best consideration and optimal use.

“An additional £700,000 was removed following consultation and deferment of four sites.”

The land will be disposed of by direct sale or by auction.

The sites that go to auction will have a marketing period of four to six weeks prior to the land going under the hammer.