Let's hope they listen now

From the Bolton Evening News, first published Saturday 26th Jan 2002.

I WOULD like to reply to some of the points made by "Saddened", concerning the article about developments in Chorley New Road Conservation Area and elsewhere, when comments of mine as Chairman of the Bolton Civic Trust Planning Committee were reported.

Firstly, while many people would agree with him that the large Victorian houses that used to line that road, with stable, gardens and tennis courts, are sadly missed, few would consider that it could have been right, or even possible, to retain them, with their batteries of servants and enormous running costs. They were the products of a bygone age and it was inevitable that they, apart from occasional examples where an alternative use could be found -- such as Woodside, now a school -- should go.

By and large their replacements -- and we would mention Hillside, Knowsley Grange and The Glen -- do not do violence to their surroundings, but maintain reasonable standards of density, quite different from the blocks of flats, or our intensive developments we are now seeing. Where such houses have to go -- and some can be adapted, eg. by conversion into flats, maintaining the original appearance -- what is important is that what takes their place reflects the character of the area, and this is where we believe recent planning decisions have gone sadly wrong.

It is not too late. A great deal remains but, unless policies change, and quickly, we shall all regret the loss of an important part of our heritage.

Secondly, he says that certain redevelopment is "unopposed". That is true for the kind of redevelopment mentioned above, for the reasons already given, but it is very far from true as to the recent permission now complained of. Hundreds of letters have been written by local residents opposing these over-intensive developments, dozens of people have attended site inspections by the Planning Committee members to voice their objections, and to put them personally.

The Civic Trust scrutinises all planning applications, and we write numerous letters of objection to these developments pointing out inconsistency with Conservation Area and Government Planning policy, all of no avail. For whatever reasons, they fall on deaf ears.

Even the planning officers often support these policies. We do feel they have not the experience and knowledge of our town, and its history, to appreciate the long term effects of what they are doing.

Things must change if the Planning Committee permitted the public to speak at their meetings and make observations, which so far they have declined to do, although some councils permit it. This would be a step in the right direction.

Let us hope they listen now.

E R P Hope

Chairman

Planning Sub-Committee

Bolton & District Civic Trust

Regent Road

Lostock

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