Storm over 2,000 homes plan

A CONTROVERSIAL proposal to build nearly 2,000 homes on “green” land in the Lowton and Golborne area – close to Warrington’s northern boundary – is attracting major opposition.
Leigh MP Andy Burnham (pictured) has condemned the proposal as “completely unacceptable” and Cllr Pam Gilligan, who represents Lowton East on Wigan Council, said: “Lowton cannot and should not be the sacrificial lamb at the altar of housing development.”
The proposal arises because a planning inspector has ruled that insufficient land has been identified for housing needs in Wigan
As a result, Wigan Council has said there is capacity on safeguarded land at Golborne and Lowton for about 1,750 homes to be built by 2026.
Mr Burnham says the proposals now put forward by Wigan, to open up huge swathes of valued green space in Lowton and Golborne are completely unacceptable.
He believes the development would have a major detrimental impact on the quality of life of local people – particularly in view of poor transport connections.
“It makes no sense at all to have strategy to concentrate the building of new homes houses in the parts of our borough that are the poorest serviced by public transport.”
It would, he says, be a recipe for “total gridlock.”
Cllr Gilligan said: “This is an issue that transcends political lines in Lowton.
“I am delighted that Andy Burnham is leading the fight against this unacceptable proposal.”