OPINIONS are being sought about the possible sale of two green areas in Kearsley for housing development.

Bolton Council has developed an asset management plan which sets out council-owned areas for the disposal of surplus land.

A review has been carried out across the council’s land holdings and two sites in Kearsley are recommended to be considered by the cabinet member for disposal.

They are on Albert Street near St John’s Primary School and the Singing Clough site, off Park View, close to Bolton Road.

Kearsley councillor Mark Cunningham is asking for views from residents and the local community to help form his response to a consultation that could see the plots of land sold off.

He said “I am sure residents and other members of the community, including the adjacent churches and schools will have views on these proposals and I need them to e-mail or write to me so that I can reflect these views in my response to a consultation with the officers who will ultimately submit a report with recommendations either for or against disposal of these sites to the executive cabinet member.

“My questions are quite straightforward, do people think there is a need for more housing on Albert Street?

“If so what kind of accommodation such as houses, flats, apartments?

“Should these be for private sale or social housing for rent or a mixture of private housing, affordable housing and rental housing?

“I think there are many factors to be considered including loss of local green space, loss of play area for the local children, adding to the existing problem of lack of parking for existing residents, anything built on this land could look directly into St Johns Primary School.”

Cllr Cunningham added: “I am also keen to hear any comments residents and other community members may wish to make on the land between Pilkington Road and Park View, Kearsley known as Singing Clough, which has previously had health and safety concerns raised by residents because of the toxic waste buried below it.

“People will recall only a couple of years ago plans were quietly dropped to build an Olympic standard cycle track at this location after I raised in council the potential dangers to residents and prohibitive costs associated with reclaiming and decontaminating this land.”

That plan was shelved after surveys and investigations. People can contact Cllr Cunningham at mark.cunningham@bolton.gov.uk