ASTLEYITES are stepping up their fight against plans to build an office block on their village green.

Proposals to build a three storey development on the vacant land which once housed pit baths and a canteen were submitted in December 2003 and met with widespread disapproval from residents in Astley.

Although the plans were withdrawn at the end of January, locals are continuing their fight and expect the application to be re-submitted soon. People fear a sizeable chunk of the open space in front of the mining museum would be lost for ever if the building and associated car parking plans go through.

Astley Green Residents Committee secretary Ingrid Berry is adamant the land should remain un-touched.

She said: "To prevent any developments we have since lodged an application to register the land as a village green with Wigan Council and are awaiting a reply.

"As secretary of the committee I received innumerable letters of objection to the proposals and I forwarded them to Councillor John Lea to make him fully aware of the extent of feeling in rejection of the plans.

"The plans will be re-submitted this month and we will continue to fight on until the council listen to what we want - and we want the land to remain as it is."

Maureen Gaskell, who lives beside the open space off Higher Green Lane, also voiced the disapproval of locals who feel the council have not supported their cause.

She said: "Councillor Lea claims the building will be beneficial to the area, yet we feel that he didn't listen to what the residents said.

"We want don't want the office block -- it's as simple as that."