Councillor’s petition to fight borough housing proposals

Atherton Independent councillor, James Paul Watson, is the man behind the call to stop plans under way to develop a further 500 houses.

The plans are part of the Greater Manchester Spatial Framework (GMSF) and the homes would be in the area west of Gibfield and north of the Talbot roundabout.

Opposing the proposals, Coun Watson said Atherton has taken the brunt of housing allocations over the last decade, with developments in Gadbury Fold, Hamilton Square, Cottonfields (Gibfield) and Bee Fold Lane.

He said: “The pre-planning has already been approved by Wigan Council without any consultation from elected councillors, residents or community groups

“Our roads are over congested which increases pollution and this is detrimental to mental and physical health.

“Our schools, GPs, dental practices are over-subscribed and the land this planned development is on was only recently identified as a wildlife area and is part of our green belt.”

He said the purpose of the petition is to stop any future housing developments in Atherton without the supporting infrastructure to match the recent town’s growth and ambition.

He added: “We are not a feeder town for Wigan or a commuter town for Manchester.

“We value our community, our greenbelt and are not a housing dumping ground for the GMSF.”

Concerns come after the latest draft of the GMSF, was published last month, which sets out the plans Wigan Council has for developing the borough over the coming years.

Proposals for a huge expansion of industrial space at Junction 25 of the M6, key to Wigan’s economic growth plans, remain in the latest draft.

Meanwhile proposals for 600 new homes and 15,000m sq of employment space at Pocket Nook in Lowton, and the North of Mosley Common site, which is proposed to have 1,100 new houses built on it, also remain.

To view Coun Watson’s pettion visit change.org and search “Stop the 500 houses in Atherton (Allocation 45 of the GMSF).

The next round of the GMSF consultation starts on December 1. To read the full plan, search for Greater Manchester Spatial Framework Publication Plan 2020.

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