RESIDENTS are campaigning to put the green back in Astley Green.

Villagers want the former site of the pit baths and canteen - in front of the pit museum - to be given village green status.

Without the protection of village green status many villagers fear the land will be sold by Wigan Council for housing.

Astley Residents Association Chairman Harry Worthington said: "It's been used as a village green for years. There are not many of them left - it would be nice to keep it. It's a place where people can sit and kids can play football. It's a local amenity.

"There's a Christmas tree on it that we sing carols around."

Astley Green Colliery baths and canteen once stood on the site alongside Higher Green Lane.

In April 1970 the pit closed. Buildings were demolished and the land grassed over and villagers say it has been used as a 'green' ever since.

Harry, who is the landlord of the Old Boathouse alongside the canal bridge on Higher Green Lane, said: "The 'green' as it is known has been there since the early 70s and therefore qualifies as an amenity due to the length of time that it has been used as such.

"We need evidence from examiners or baths rooms worker who have memories of when the baths were pulled down and grassed over, or any interesting information about the land."

More traffic

Harry added that if more houses were built on the land it would mean more traffic for the village.

He said: "They could only build three or four houses there, is it really worth it?"

A Wigan Council spokesman said: "The Council does have land ownership issues in this area. Any application for a village green would have to be carefully investigated and considered. As yet we have received no such application."