THE Department of the Environment has stepped into a planning row at the Middlebrook Sports Village development.

Councillors were due to consider a planning application yesterday to clear peat from the site at Horwich.

The application from Bolton Council and the Greater Manchester Waste Disposal Authority would shift 600,000 cubic metres of peat on to a disused Red Moss tipping site.

It would then be landscaped and used as a recreational area.

But it was revealed that Government had issued a notice at the 11th hour which prevented Bolton Council considering the scheme.

Mr Richard Cowley, assistant director of planning and engineering services said: "The Government Office North West needs to be content that English Nature and the Environment Agency are happy that this will not affect the site of special scientific interest."

He said that the move would delay the landscaping work, but it would not bring the £200 million development to a halt.

It is expected that the peat will be stored on another part of the site until the wrangle is sorted out.

Cllr Bob Howarth, Bolton Council leader, said: "This proposal does mean that everyone is a winner.

"The developer is able to remove the peat without having to take it off site.

"But in return, we will have a scheme which will mean a great improvement to the Red Moss site.

"But we do have to ensure that the concerns of English Nature are considered."

Councillors agreed the scheme in principle, but the final decision was delegated to Mr Ray Jefferson, Director of Planning and Environment Services once the wrangle is sorted out.

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