'THE country's top Eco warriors move into Hindley Green on Sunday, in a bid to help save the area's last green fields from the developer.

Manchester Airport protesters, including naked treetop lady, Fungus, will join an eco-awareness day on the 'Village Green' site.

They will be joined by No-Xanadu campaigner, Chris Maile, and Vanessa Hall, chair of the Manchester Green Party, at the proposed housing estate site at the back of Carr Common Road - Corner Lane.

Last month local resident, Ray Williams, applied to the High Court for leave to appeal against the Wigan Council decision to grant outline planning permission for their own proposal to develop Belvedere Farm.

WASP, Wildlife and Social Preservation on the Green, have vowed to challenge the proposed development to the end. In addition to Mr Williams' action in appealing to the High Court to grant a judicial review, the group, along with residents have asked the Secretary of State to call in the proposal for impartial consideration.

John Vickers, group chair, said: "People in Hindley Green were disappointed, but not surprised, by the council's decision to yet again ignore their views in mounting the largest protest the borough has ever seen.

"However, the 1,000 voices which the council has chosen to ignore will not go away. The real fight to save our quality of life has just begun.

"The impact on the area of the loss of its vital green lungs and only recreational amenity has been significant enough to interest the Eco-warriors, who are dedicated to making the public aware of the reality of short-term, quick buck planning."

Jugglers and stilt walkers will join the day of protest, where there will be workshops on protest techniques, recycling and a sponsored safe tree climb.

And Mr Vickers says just because land is zoned for certain future use it does not necessarily have to be developed.

He says: "Bolton councillors have achieved what in Wigan would be thought impossible - they've listened to people and acted according to their wishes in refusing planning permission for a controversial business park in Westhoughton.

"Just because land is earmarked in the UDP for a particular purpose does not mean councillors are bound hand and foot to pass planning applications for it, as has been Wigan's lame excuse over Belvedere Farm.

"Instead of bleating about being sued nand getting the pole vault ready when landowners and developers say 'jump', Wigan should try to emulate Bolton's courageous benchmark decision."

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.