Horses which have ‘grazed the land for decades’ join a Wigan borough protest march against a huge green field development
Residents and four-legged friends took to the streets of a Wigan borough community in opposition to major commercial plans that could swallow up the last green spaces in their community.
Members of Gibfield Preservation Group joined a national day of action for nature to highlight what they claim could be lost if a planning proposal is approved in Atherton.
Horses and ponies, representing animals which have grazed the land in question for generations, joined the demonstration march opposing a proposed 500-home and industrial park development.
Still in the pre-planning application stage, Gibfield Park – between Daisy Hill and the Wigan Road area of Atherton – would see 500 homes and an industrial park built.
Peel Land said the area in question had long been earmarked for development and that if the community had any queries or concerns, they would be “addressed through the consultation process.”
Part of the land has been used by dozens of horses for decades. Horses from a livery yard at Hindley’s Farm, off Wigan Road in Atherton can often be seen from nearby main roads.
Chair of Gibfield Preservation Group, Amanda Coleman, said: “More than 50 people turned out alongside horses and ponies and a tractor from a nearby farm to support the day of action for nature.
“Members of Gibfield Preservation Group were supported by drivers who beeped in support after the group including horses walked into Atherton town centre to raise awareness of the threat to the green belt land at Gibfield Park.
“People joined the walk along the way with many only recently becoming aware of the proposals to build on the last green space in the town.
“They were not aware of the plans that could see houses and industrial warehouses built on the land where horses graze and deer, owls, bats, newts and a range of rare species call home.”
A Peel Land spokesperson, previously said: “This land has been identified for future development in the Greater Manchester Places for Everyone Plan, which was approved by Wigan Council in 2024.
“The development of this land will not be immediate as we are currently consulting on a masterplan, which is at an early stage, and a planning application has not yet been submitted.”