LIKE many others, I was also in Westhoughton Council chamber on December 11 for a meeting about plans for a new housing estate on one of the area's last green sites, and at their very glossy presentation on December 12. The developers put on a good show. But the shine soon wore off and doubts about their scheme crept in.

We, the public, did speak on many issues, including air pollution, road safety, land destruction, site history and destruction of protected wild life.

Cllrs Wilkinson and Clare gave good account of themselves on the issue of traffic. I was very concerned about the loss of such a rare green site, with such important historical links to the last Millennium; also the enclosure of Hall Lee Bank Park by housing and industry. What happens to that wildlife when it is trapped and its adjoining habitat is destroyed forever by carpet building? At their presentation on December 12, their ecologist/environmentalist was present. I asked about the wildlife - where will it go? She said: "Some will go - the hare, skylark and lapwing." I mentioned the great crested newt. She said: "They can be moved".

At the December 11 meeting, we were told the ponds are to be kept, improved etc.

On December 11,we were told the existing hedgerows are to be kept. But in their report it says: "Hedgerows have not been examined for antiquity at this stage, but the majority were observed to be poor, and unlikely to be of interest."

What will be the long term effects of extra traffic caused by this scheme? Up to 2,000 vehicles. What about the extra emissions of carbon monoxide etc. According to their "predictions", traffic on Park Road would decrease from 5040 to 4440. Six hundred fewer?

However, if Platt Lane is cut off and the Lee Hall estate access road is built, it will result only in several dead ends and two extra mini roundabouts near Daisy Hill station. "Where will the 2000 or so extra traffic go?" Answer - onto Leigh Road, Wigan Road, Church Street, Market Street, Bolton Road, Chew Moor Lane etc. But, never mind, the spokesman from the planners said of the traffic - "No worse with us than without us." Let's not forget that the Westhoughton, Hindley and Wigan bypass was cancelled.

As public support grows stronger by the day, let's not lose sight of the goal. All we are doing is trying to stop the madness of sprawling development.

Mr D Fearnley

St John's Road, Chew Moor.

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