Conservatives against draft Core Strategy proposals for Cutacre Site

Hulton Ward Councillors would like to assure all Over Hulton residents that we have and will continue to oppose any change of use of the Cutacre site from Green Belt other than that granted by the current planning approval.

We along with you, the residents in Over Hulton, were promised that the land would be made into a country park when the opencast mining activity has ceased.

Cllr Andy Morgan commenting said “There is currently an informal consultation process on going and residents should log their objections as soon as possible by either logging onto the Bolton Council Website (www.bolton.gov.uk/corestrategy) or send your objections to any of your ward councillors (see contact details on this website) and we will ensure your objections are logged.  I cannot stress how important it is that Council Officers and Government officials know the strength of feeling by local residents against this proposal.  It is also intended to hold a specific Area Forum Meeting on this issue, details of which will be notified to residents and posted on this website when confirmed.”

Reasons for objections may include:

1.  The creation of urban sprawl:

If this land is developed then it would effectively mean that Over Hulton will connect directly to the Salford boundary without any substantial green belt between the two areas.  Green belt is supposed to prevent urban sprawl and its removal would lead to Salford and Bolton "merging" into one over developed sprawl.

2.  Irretrievable loss of the green belt area:

This area has been and is continued to be used as a public amenity for the benefit of the residents of Over Hulton.  Its loss would have a detrimental effect on the quality of life for those who use this area for exercise and general amenity.

3.  The loss of an historical right of way

4.  The current planning approval for this site was originally rejected by Bolton Council and was only approved after Appeal by a Government appointed Planning Inspector against the wishes of the Bolton Planning Committee.  The planning approval was only granted after the placing of stringent conditions which included returning the site back to green belt and the creation of a country park.  To ensure that conditions would be complied with a substantial restoration bond was requested and subsequently deposited to ensure that the Planning Inspectors requirements for restoration would be complied with.

5.  The wild life that lives in this area is vast and varied and any development would obviously have a detrimental effect on this wild life.

6.  The impact on the local infrastructure with increased traffic from Wigan, Salford and other areas from within Bolton would obviously have a detrimental impact on the surrounding areas and those residents that live there.

7.  The intensification of such a large area for employment would have a detrimental effect on all areas within Bolton.  There are enough brown field sites across the borough to meet the government’s requirements for employment which would of course spread the employment opportunities across the whole borough.  We do not want a repeat of the Middlebrook development when a substantial proportion of residents of the borough were unable to take up the employment opportunities available because of poor public transport provision.

8.  The desires and aspirations of the residents of Over Hulton seem to have been completely ignored.  The Local Authority, need to put the well being and quality of life of those residents who would be most affected by it redesignation first not the aspirations of UK Coal to substantially increase the value of this land.

Cllr Alan Walsh said “All we want is what was promised under the current permission, i.e. a country park. There are numerous other brown field sites that could be regenerated across the borough spreading employment opportunities across the whole of Bolton.”

Cllr Phil Ashcroft added “I and my ward colleagues can assure residents that we will continue to lobby officers and council members to reject this proposal and to honour the current permission fully.”