Anger as green belt land is flattened
AN MP has hit out at ‘ environmental vandalism’ after two protected fields were flattened without warning.
Anger is raging over the green belt land in Ramsbottom - and police have been contacted.
James Frith, MP for Bury North, has written to landowners Peel Holdings demanding an urgent explanation.
He said he’s been swamped with complaints from people who use the land, and enquiries with Bury council have revealed no planning applications for the land are in the pipeline.
Mr Frith said bulldozers were suddenly pictured on the fields off Nuttall Lane and Coppice Vale without residents knowing anything about it.
He said there has been damage to vegetation and wildlife and a specialist police wildlife officer has vowed to review the circumstances.
Mr Frith said: “Peel own the land, but it is protected green belt and there are no current planning permissions associated with the fields.
“This environmental vandalism, carried out suddenly with no notice to local residents, was rightly met with concern and the devastation left in its wake must be investigated. I have written to Peel demanding an expla- nation for their actions and future plans for the site. I have also urged them to significantly improve communications with local residents should they conduct any further action on any land owned by them in my constituency.”
The entire site, which runs across the River Irwell to the M66 in its entirety, is believed to host nesting birds. Deer have also been spotted nearby.
A campaign group - Residents Against Inappropriate Development Ramsbottom - has been formed.
Dog-walker Michelle Bajda, 37, said the site - a haven to wildlife - was about the size of six football pitches. She said: “It’s been scalped. The whole meadow is bare and quiet, bar the odd small tree and some remaining bushes. It’s a stark difference to what we are used to enjoying - a rich meadow full of birds singing and flying from bush to bush, squir- rels, voles and mice.
“There would still have been birds nesting there. It’s totally shocked our local community, walkers, dog walkers, children and bird watchers and all that visited the area regularly.”
Peel Holdings declined to make any comment on the matter at this stage.