THE Westhoughton Lee Hall development plan has severe drawbacks for the existing population, and fundamental weaknesses in the plan.

Since serious farming of the land ceased around 20 years ago, it has become a quite rich wildlife area, and is one of the very few walking and riding areas left in Westhoughton centre.

The 'offer' to build the by-pass which has otherwise been put off until many years from now, is misleading. It will not be a by-pass unless the connection over the Atherton boundary to Atherleigh Way is completed, or until a new Hindley/Wigan road is built.

The concept of a by-pass with a roundabout at the side of the 'village centre' in the middle of the estate, ignores the meaning of its descriptive title. The 'appealing;' description of the 'centre' and what it 'may' include is largely flattery. A pub I may grant - but which church will want to build there? Which council will build a library when Bolton is trying to close them? There is a (large) doctors surgery north of the area now, and several in Atherton, which will be much nearer for the dwellers in the south end of the area.

The flattering use of the term 'employment zone' covers up the likelihood of large, ugly, shed-like structures, backing onto existing and proposed housing, and duplicating the existing business park at Wingates.

Severe subsidence is now apparent at one or two areas, and may well appear at others.

I am surprised that the new owners have not come up with a more original idea which would be more acceptable to the population, and more profitable for them - to build in the much larger Hulton Park area. It currently has extremely limited public access, and would impinge much less on the ordinary Westhoughton proletariats.

Fred Sharples

Lee Bank, Westhoughton

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