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'And they're off' to fight racing

31/ 1/2001

BATTLE lines are being drawn over controversial plans to build the first racecourse in Britain since the 1920s - right on the city's doorstep.

Almost 1,000 angry residents turned up at meetings in Worsley and Boothstown to oppose plans by property giants Peel Holdings to create a Worsley racecourse, to be known as Salford Forest Park.

The company wants to build on 2,000 acres of greenbelt land between the two villages, but locals claim it would create traffic chaos, destroy valuable countryside and endanger wildlife.

Members of three residents groups have joined forces to fight the proposal and are now trying to raise £15,000 to pay for legal representation at a public enquiry they believe will be held later this year.

Salford planning officers are currently deciding whether to make a decision, or pass responsibility to the Secretary of State. However, they say it is the biggest planning application the city has ever received and they have already had over 1,000 residents' letters .

If given the go-ahead, Peel Holdings, who own the Trafford Centre and are one of the biggest land-owners in Salford, would build the first racecourse in Greater Manchester since Castle Irwell closed in 1963, and the first in Britain since 1928.

The company say races, ranging from flagship events to low-key meetings, would be held on about 30 days a year.

They also want to set up a golf course, club-house, driving range, an eco-style holiday village, pub, hotel, nature reserve, timber workshops, and a visitors centre.

Speaking at a public meeting last week, Robin Garrido of Worsley Village Community Association said: "If we lose this fight and this land is built on what will be passed on to our children and grandchildren? Not very much."

Meanwhile former RAF squadron leader Peter Roe, aged 87, has begun his own public consultation, sending out 1,000 leaflets asking whether residents support the scheme, and, he says, almost all of the 900 responses were against.

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