We are lucky to be surrounded by beautiful parks and countryside here in Bolton West & Atherton. In my view, there is no better place to live and work – close enough and with good transport connections to major cities and towns, but far enough away to enjoy a peaceful life, with fantastic scenery and countryside on our doorsteps.
We most protect our ‘green lung’ around our towns and villages which is why I am urging each and every local resident who values our community to object to plans to build on one of our oldest and most prestigious parks – the Hulton Estate.
Since the government devolved the power to decide where new houses are built, I have become increasingly concerned about how Greater Manchester and its Council Leaders are handling planning and we have seen a series of estates built without any additional infrastructure, such as schools, roads and GP surgeries.
The Greater Manchester Spatial Framework is a good idea in principle and should see us have a comprehensive plan for where houses are most needed, along with the infrastructure we need to go along with them.
The Greater Manchester Combined Authority’s first go was abysmal, especially when it came to Bolton and Wigan Boroughs. It seemed to give the green light for a free for all on our green spaces in our towns with limited plans for how we were meant to cope with the added pressure on our roads, public transport, health service and schools. Despite public concern, it was signed off by Council Leaders, including Lord Peter Smith.
Quite rightly, this was a major topic during the election for the Greater Manchester Mayor and I was pleased to see that the winner of that race, Andy Burnham, over-rode the other Labour leaders in Greater Manchester and use his power to veto the Greater Manchester Spatial Framework.
This was months and months ago and we had expected to see the new plan by now – but we’ve now been told that there has been a ‘delay’ – conveniently until after the local elections.
What this means is that we have been left with a free for all where developers can pick and choose the best sites they want to build on, including our green fields and spaces, because the Greater Manchester Spatial Framework is at such an early stage.
We’ve seen this recently over the Wigan Borough border in Westhoughton, when the independent planning inspector has ruled that because the Spatial Framework is at such an early stage and because the local authority cannot show that it has got a realistic plan for housing, it has to allow these sites to progress. Even if it means building over our beautiful green spaces, whilst the rickety old factory long-closed down – the sort of brown fields sites where we should be regenerating and building on – remain dangerous eye-sores and left standing because developers don’t want them.
The Hulton Estate is technically in the Bolton Borough, but it is on the border with Atherton. Peel currently have plans in to build a golf course, a big hotel and thousands of houses – something that would have a huge impact on our roads and schools and health services. Most people know the grand history of the park – and if you don’t, I would urge you to look it up. We must protect this historical Estate. The deadline for submitting objections has officially passed, I have been told that the Council will accept them right up until the planning meeting on 1st March.
You can make your voice heard by sending your objections to Planning Control, Department of Place, Development Management, Town Hall, Bolton, BL1 1RU and quoting ‘Planning Application Number 00997/17’.
If you’re looking for ideas on what to say, my own objection is up on my website at www.chris-green.org.uk for you to read.
The first Spatial Framework was an abysmal failure, partly because it did not push brownfield first and showed that our Council Leaders are out of touch with what we want and need.
Until Greater Manchester’s Council Leaders and Mayor get together and get this Spatial Framework signed off, we are going to be at risk of more of our green spaces being built over. In the meantime we can only work together to do everything we can to stop them.