THE past triumphed over the future when Ainsworth villagers won the battle to preserve their heritage.

The alarm was raised last Thursday when shocked residents saw trailers and tractors trundling past two prized 16th century buildings on Knowsley Road.

The road has been bordered on one side by the Grade Two listed Ainsworth Unitarian Chapel since 1715 and the Grade Two Old Stables on the other side since 1768. "The sheer size and weight of the vehicles could have caused untold damage," said chairman of the chapel trustees Mr Steve Horrocks. He lives opposite the chapel and prevented one of the tractors from getting through by blocking the lane with his car.

Mrs Katherine Miller, of Brownhill Farm, had contracted Neales Farm Services to spread pulp on a field at the end of the road. Radcliffe North councillor Barry Briggs, who raised the alarm, said: "The Environment Agency and council planning officers were called in and persuaded the firm to abandon the job."

Operations manager for Neales Farm Services, Mr Oliver Dewhurst, said: "We decided to stop the job after being alerted by council officials and residents of the risk to the listed buildings."

But Mrs Miller is determined to fight back and has contacted a solicitor from the National Farmers Union.

"These people are ridiculous," she said of the residents. "This is agricultural land and they have no rights to block roads with parked cars to stop agricultural vehicles from passing through."

A conservation officer will now investigate to see if the chapel and stables suffered any damage.

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