RESIDENTS are fighting to save a former social club from the developers.

They claim the Hindley Green club in Atherton Road was left to the people of the area by a deed covenant in 1904 by mill owner Henry Kirkpatrick and should not be sold.

Families in Lincroft Road, Atherton Road and Edgeworth Road have written letters of objection to the plans for shops on the site -- especially a late shop which they say would attract yobs.

They have called for a meeting with councillors before any proposals are passed.

At Wigan Council's planning committee meeting last week, it was decided that a site visit would be made to meet the protesters on November 16.

Tommy Topping, of Edgeworth Road, said: "That site was left to the people by Henry Kirkpatrick Snr to be used by men only. Women were only allowed in much later on. The land is held is on a 999-year lease from 1895 and should not be sold."

Bill Battersby, of Lincroft Avenue, said: "No way should they be selling this land. There are enough shops in Hindley Green already and we don't need any more, especially a late shop which would attract youths congregating outside causing disruption and vandalism.

"We have far too many cars, vans and lorries using Lincroft Road already."

An Atherton Road couple protested that Hindley Green has a well-documented problem with gangs of teenage youths congregating at night around shops and amenities.

One example is the arson attack on St John's School which was burned down.

They said: "The community and authorities are working hard to tackle this major problem and this development would only serve as another hang out point and add to the problem in a major way.

"Atherton Road is already a traffic hot spot with a fair share of heavy goods vehicles on a daily basis. The proposed store would congest the road even more and constitute a safety hazard."