A MASSIVE leisure complex with horse race course and forest park is planned on Astley and Boothstown's doorstep.

Developers' plans for the 1600-acre country park include a new Manchester race course and Salford Forest Park.

Work has already begun at Boothstown on what would be the access road if the mammoth scheme goes ahead.

Landowners Peel Holdings proposals for Botany Bay Wood and surrounding farmland would run from the M602 motorway in the east and link with Astley Green in the west.

A planning application is likely to go before Salford Council by the end of next month.

Apart from the horse racing course other facilities planned include a European style camp site with chalets, cross country equestrian events, horse and pony riding, orienteering, golf, boating, fishing, air gun and clay pigeon shooting.

They would compliment caravanning, a garden centre, tree nursery, play areas, miniature railway, nature, cycle and pony trails.

Attractions would link Astley Green mining museum, canal tours, Scouting and education centres, bird watching and nature reserves at Botany Bay Wood, Worsley Moss and Lower Green, Astley.

Proposals came to light in Peel's promotional brochure for the venture after farm access road construction began off the A580 at Boothstown across Green Belt land between Boothstown and Astley.

Astley Green residents were worried that it could open up the area to much more than distant Moss House Farm and Malkins Wood Farm as intended.

Villager John Heaton told The Journal: "We've had a look at the plans and the supposed farm road should only be 4.6 metres wide, but its 15 metres at the narrowest point.

"It's like a third runway."

Wigan Council turned down the roadway plans in 1993 but Peel got permission after a planning appeal judgment in 1994.

In August that year they were given five years to build the access with the condition that it was restricted to agricultural use.

Astley Councillor and Wigan planner John Lea said the authority had been concerned about the proposals.

He said: "The appeal inspector stipulated the road is for agricultural use only - there is a Section 106 agreement stipulating that.

"I can understand locals' concern but this is Green Belt land and as far as development is concerned the government is steering more and more to brown land redevelopment.

"But the race course idea is intriguing and that could be agreeable Green Belt development."

Peel applied for the road to serve Moss House and Malkins Wood Farm and take farm traffic off Victoria Street and Vicar's Hall Lane.

The company, which formulated the £600m Trafford Centre retail mecca, now hopes to create a country leisure centre bringing horse racing back to Manchester after 36 years.

Leigh MP Lawrence Cunliffe, a keen racegoer, welcomed the news: "It is an interesting idea. It was a sad day when Manchester Race Course closed. It would be nice if the November Handicap could return."

But Astley Residents Association member and keen bird watcher Pete Berry told The Journal: "If the plans go ahead and the race course development takes place it could open the door for much more."

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