UNCORK the champagne, it's definitely time to celebrate a victory for commonsense as the plan to build a supertip at Red Moss finally goes on the scrap-heap. Bolton Council's planning committee rejected the scheme by UK Waste, after months of uncertainty and two years of lobbying by everyone from MPs to schoolchildren.
It's hard to remember a less popular plan: a petition of 10,000 names was handed in before last night's meeting. But protesters were rightly jubilant as a planning application, originally scheduled to be assessed in January, was kicked out for good.
The move is a deserved victory for the men and women of the Red Moss Action Committee, who have worked tirelessly to make public and officialdom alike aware of the dangers of losing this Site of Special Scientific Interest. And to prevent a massive tip just a stone's throw from the costly development that is shaping up as the new Bolton Wanderers' sports village.
Now, it is envisaged that the peat-bog and surrounding area will - with the help of English Nature and various other environmental agencies - be refurbished to provide a recognised wild-life habitat. Such a move should certainly add to the tourist attractions of an area already famed for its rural beauty.
Meanwhile, UK Waste has responded by warning of a growing waste crisis that recycling will only partly solve. Landfill capacity is rapidly disappearing, while waste is increasing and it is something which the Greater Manchester area will have to tackle as a matter of urgency.
Today, however, this will not be in the minds of the many people whose dedication and determination have brought its own reward. Red Moss may not yet be the loveliest site in England, but it's OURS, and it's worth fighting for.
Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.
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