PART of a Bolton tip could be transformed into a unique woodland cemetery if the land owners get their way. Owners of the Bull Hill landfill site want to turn part of the newly landscaped site into a 2000 grave cemetery and memorial park.

But yesterday town hall lawyers urged government inspector David Asher to throw out the plans and keep the site off Smiths Road and Starcliffe Street, Moses Gate, as it is.

Councillors believe the cemetery will detract from the character of the Croal/Irwell river valley and have a detrimental impact on nature conservation in the area.

They say the uniform nature of the cemetery, the buildings, car park and visitors will all spoil a green belt area which they have fought hard to have restored to its natural glory after years of tipping.

And they fear it will encroach on a neighbouring site of special biological interest (SBi) around the Star Street Reservoir.

But representatives of Park Pit Landfill told a public inquiry at the town hall that the scheme will actually enhance the area.

They plan to have gravestones laid flush to the ground and transform the burial areas into wild flower meadows which will blend in with the surrounding countryside.

According to their plans, the buildings, car parks and memorial walls for urns will be on low lying areas eventually screened from view where grieving relatives will be able to find solitude in natural countryside.

Planning consultant Carl Copestake argued that the nearby Moses Gate country park, which has paths and a visitors centre, had established the urban nature of the valley.

He said: "I cannot understand how a cemetery is out of character and a country park is not. The council argument is flawed."

But council lawyer Sylvia Bland hit back: "In this case the formal elements will be very prominent. In a country park the formal elements are tucked away and better screened."

The council's expert ecological witness Dr Ralph Tomlinson said he was opposed because he feared well intentioned environmental plans would eventually lead to a more traditional cemetery with neat row of graves.

He argued that pressure from relatives to tidy up graves, paths and surrounding areas would put an end to the natural habitat and also called into question the possibility of turning a tip into a viable wildflower meadow.

And he added: "Anyone with an awareness of the history knows there has been a long record of harm to the SBi."

But Park Hill representatives disagreed and urged the inspector to overturn the planning committee's decision to refuse permission for the cemetery.

They accused councillors of acting unreasonably and ignoring the advice of their own in house experts and other green organisations which did not oppose the plans.

Council lawyers asked the inspector to impose a long list of conditions if he decided to go against them, including insisting on gas and other tests to prove the site is safe to be dug up for graves.