Work is under way to create new ponds and grassland areas at what will be a huge new industrial estate. The “ecology areas” are being created as part of the new Wingates Industrial Estate expansion. But concerns have been raised about the loss of the natural environment and about the huge number of extra lorries set to travel down Westhoughton’s roads as part of the works.
Cllr David Wilkinson, of Westhoughton South, said: “The ecology area is something that’s required as part of the planning application and in a sense it's welcome because otherwise it would just be a straight ‘that’s it we’re building!’ “So as part of those conditions it means the developers will have to put a little bit back, but I’ve seen other industrial sites with where ecology areas have been put in place and they’ve not been very successful.” The planned ecology area shown in red (Image: Harworth Group) He added: “When you look at the ecology area, it’s a little area tucked away, it's about as tucked away as you can get!” Approval to develop the site west of Wingates was given approval more than three years ago and will see more than 1.1m sq ft of logistics and manufacturing space created.
After concerns raised by the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government about the loss of greenspace the proposal was called in for a public consultation. In December last year, the latest step of the proposal was approved to help deal with traffic. The development will cr.
