I REFER to Cllr Pauline Spencer's outburst regarding not building on brownfield sites.

For a start, this statement flies in the face of present Government policies and Agenda 21. This statement also conflicts with her husband, Noel, in a previous statement, describing Bolton as a "drought" town.

I understand it is difficult to please everybody, but fair's fair! We have had far too much development in Westhoughton over the past 25 years, which has created the problems we are so fed up of. Joining Bolton, which culminated in mass development was the worst thing we ever did.

The last thing we want is a fly in the ointment, at a time when the development of greenfield sites is raising its ugly head via the WIDE business group, which have recently come out of the woodwork.

We SWAN members (Save Westhoughton, Act Now) are deeply concerned about WIDE's intentions, as one of the Lee Hall/Hulton Park owners was recognised on WIDE's promotion photo (Wednesday, June 16), but was not mentioned by name, as was Mr Godley and Mr Ray Jefferson and co.

Bolton WIDE is a consortium of private businesses, with Bolton Council Planning represented on that group. How can planning officers be impartial when they ar directly affiliated to such a group? What chance have the public got in future planning objections, and what effect will this group have on the UDP? How many more greenfield sites could we lose?

If Bolton Council are serious about Agenda 21, they should protect our ever diminishing greenfield sites for the benefit of ourselves and future generations.

B Howarth

Alexandria Drive

Westhoughton

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.