A FURIOUS Kearsley man is organising a petition against controversial plans by Bolton Council for a multi-million pound business park.

As revealed in the BEN, council chiefs have proposed plans for the industrial development - which could create 300 jobs - on a landscaped former tip at Singing Clough, Kearsley.

The idea is to strike up a partnership with the private sector to develop the site and create jobs in the Farnworth and Kearsley areas.

A new access road to the existing Lyons Industrial Estate is planned to steer heavy traffic away from Springfield Road and Pilkington Road. But Bill Collison of Bolton Road, Kearsley, says the plans will lead to traffic chaos and claims that the council has been misleading local people.

He says that on countless occasions he has been given assurances by council employees that the land would not be given over to development.

He stormed: "Kearsley was a rural village until we came under Bolton's Labour Council. They have taken away our amenities and now they want to take away the only bit of land left in the area to walk our dogs and let our children play."

Mr Collison says there are already too many industrial estates in the area - Europa, Lyons, and Fishbrook, and he believes that the creation of the access road will lower the value of local properties. He also claims that developing the former tip is fraught with potential problems from gas emissions.

Kearsley Labour Cllr Sharon Keatings said several residents had contacted her voicing concerns over the new access road.

But she said: "It's hard to comment at present as there are no detailed plans. As a councillor I am concerned about the residents as a whole. And I have to take into account that the majority of people will benefit from the creation of 300 extra jobs.

"Until detailed plans are put on the table I have an open mind."

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