A BOLTON landowner claims that his efforts to make a stretch of the River Tonge safe for children are being blocked by council red tape.

Furious Tonge Fold man Sam Bancroft contacted the BEN to support our campaign to fill in disused and dangerous old mill lodges in the town.

But he says his attempts to clear the waters he owns of years worth of rubbish and make it into an attractive and safe area have suffered a setback because of council planners.

For years Mr Bancroft rented a piece of land leading onto the River Tonge at the rear of Cemetery Road.

He recently bought the land with a view to turning into a petting zoo for primary school children.

As part of his plans Mr Bancroft is clearing the river and hoped to build a safe path through the sheer-sided banks along with a retained fence.

He said: "When I first contacted the council to let them know what I was doing they told me it was nothing to do with them and was a matter for the Environment Agency. I wrote to the Environment Agency and they replied that as long as I did not block or divert the course of the river they were quite happy."

Almost single-handedly and at a cost running into thousands of pounds Mr Bancroft began to clear the site.

"There was all sorts of rubbish in the river from old tyres and bricks to broken glass," he said. "As with any piece of water, like lodges, it is a magnet for young children and I have seen them coming down the river on makeshift rafts and even pondliners.

"If anyone got snagged on the rubbish and was taken under that would be it which is one of the reason I want to make it safe."

But Mr Bancroft claims that after starting the work council planners have suddenly taken a renewed interest in his plans and are now hampering his progress.

"It was none of their business when I first approached them but now they are saying that it is an engineering project and I need planning permission," he said.

"I don't know why they are doing this but I believe they own the pieces of land on either side of my piece and maybe my bit being clean would be an embarrassment to them."

He added: "Applying for planning permission costs a lot of money which I don't have. I have already spent a great deal on the site after they said it was not their concern."

He added that he has faced similar problems over another piece of land he owns at the rear of Oakenbottom Road, which he wants to turn into an equestrian centre.

Again he claims his plans to clear Bradshaw Brook have hit the same brick wall.

"At the end of the day I see this as an investment and I do hope to make money from the sites through the centres and the fishing rights," he said.

"But it would also clean them up and make them attractive and safe so I can't understand why the council have changed their tune so suddenly."

A spokesman for Bolton Council said they had visited the areas and contacted the Environment Agency asking them to investigate what he is doing and to report back to them.

The spokesman added: "Mr Bancroft has not co-operated with the council and provided details of what he is planning, nor what the Environment Agency have told him.

"We have not had the opportunity to look at his plans and let him know whether he need permission or not."