A PUBLIC meeting has been called to discuss the implications of plans for an industrial estate on farmland between Tyldesley and Mosley Common.

Local councillors Alan Stephenson and Brian Wilson have invited locals to the meeting, which starts at 7pm on Monday, at Garrett Hall School, Tyldesley.

Many residents are opposed to the Peel Holdings plans -- and more than 250 people have signed a petition to protest.

They believe development would damage the environment -- and destroy the last piece of open land left between Tyldesley and Mosley Common.

One concerned resident, Marian Critchley, of Withington Drive, in Astley, said: "Residents just don't want an industrial estate in the area. There are lots of families with kids, and a new industrial estate would make the roads unsafe for them, because there will be increased traffic and more heavy goods vehicles on the road.

"The kids who go to Garrett Hall School can look out of the window and see green fields now.

"But all they will see if the proposal goes ahead is an industrial estate -- it's not much of a view."

Cllr Brian Wilson, who also opposes the development, said: "We share residents' concerns that the only open land between Astley and Mosley Common would disappear if this goes ahead.

"The area is classed as 'open land' on the Unitary Development Plan (UDP), and retains that status in the UDP update."