Council leader joins land debate

1:52pm Tuesday 11th March 2008

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The leader of Chorley Council has stepped into a row over a parcel of land that could now be used for housing instead leisure.

Last week the Citizen reported that the land, six hectares off Euxton Lane, had now been taken back by land regeneration agency, English Partnerships, despite an agreement to transfer it to Euxton Parish Council a year ago by Chorley Council.

A Chorley Council executive decision last March would have allowed the land, between Pear Tree Lane and Whinney Lane, to be taken off English Partnerships at no cost and given to the parish council for recreation purposes on a 25 year lease.

But English Partnerships has now submitted an application to get it approved for housing.

The council now wants to reassure residents that the land has only been submitted for consideration for housing under the Local Development Framework (LDF) process which encourages consultation with local people about the use of land. It said no decision has been made.

Council leader Peter Goldsworthy said: "I can understand the reaction from people in this area.

"This land is being used for leisure purposes and English Partnerships had proposed to transfer it to the council to safeguard its future use.

"The next thing, the press is reporting that it's been allocated for housing.

"This is not true. English Partnerships have submitted it for consideration for housing development under the Local Development Framework - but no decision has been made.

"I still wish to see this land used for leisure purposes and will be meeting with English Partnerships as soon as possible."

The situation was brought to light by the councillor for Astley and Buckshaw, Mark Perks, who was furious when he discovered that the land could now be considered for housing.

He said English Partnerships failed to receive responses from the borough council despite "repeated offers" to discuss the land transfer and they only changed their mind because they have been asked to look at land they own to see whether it could be considered for the Local Development Framework - which is being driven by Chorley Borough Council.

Coun Goldsworthy maintains the council has done all in its power to drive forward the land transfer, adding: "We've done everything we could to make this happen - and we're still committed to it, but they've changed their minds."

Coun Perks is also concerned about the investigation which is being led by the council leader.

He said: "If an officer of the council hadn't followed it through, it's the chief executive that needs to investigate."