BURY'S Cabinet members tonight approved the sale of greenbelt land to form part of a homeowner's garden.

The space forms part of Old Kays Park and the owner of a house in Holcombe Road wants to add a portion of the land to hers to improve security at the property.

Planning permission has already been granted to Sorrel Holland, who lives in the house, to change the area's use but the sell off of the council land had to be approved by the Cabinet following public objections.

At the town hall meeting, Cllr Eamonn O'Brien expressed the view the process had been dealt with properly by Miss Holland and he saw no reason to stop the sale as conditions prevented the land from being built on.

He said: "We have a duty to protect the greenbelt as much as we can and I think it's important to put that at the centre of this.

"It's important to acknowledge it's not to be built on for additional housing or extensions, it is a green space."

Miss Holland’s property backs onto the greenbelt park in Tottington with the only boundary being a step up from her ground-level patio.

In the supporting statement with her change of use application, Miss Holland’s agent, Paula Fitzgerald says: “There is no boundary treatment at the moment to the rear, which does not provide any security or privacy for the occupiers.”

Miss Holland was granted permission by Bury planners in July 2015 and the land was advertised in The Bury Times as earmarked for disposal in June this year.

Miss Holland's application was to change the use of the land into a garden space and enclose the area with a beech hedge.

Four objections to the disposal of the land were received by the council, forcing the matter to be brought before the cabinet.

All the objectors mention the current use of the land was currently part of Old Kays Park and for the benefit of the wider public.

One objector worries Miss Holland or subsequent owners would build on the land and the sale would encourage other owners of homes which back onto parkland to try to apply for land to expand their gardens.

Another objection argued the land was created with the Forest Authority (FA) and questions what the FA would think.

Speaking at the meeting Ms Fitzgerald, said: "The area is a small part of the park, it can still be enjoyed and used by the public and there are no public rights of way through the area."

She also refuted worries a precedent would be set by highlighting guidance that in cases of greenbelt, each site will be assessed based on its own merits.

She added: "The applicant doesn't want a manicured garden, a small beech hedge will be planted, which will be sensitive and natural and will hopefully encourage local wildlife."