ANGLING and sporting clubs together with nature trusts could be approached to make an audacious bid to buy five lodges which Cockey Moor residents fear are under threat.

The Whitehead Lodges, which straddle Starling and Ainsworth, are being sold off as part of a £1.5 million package by the owners of the shutdown Elton Cop Dyeing works in Bury.

But local conservationists are worried that the picturesque reservoirs could ultimately be drained and robbed of their wildlife.

Scores of householders are poised to give their support to the battle to preserve the lodges at a public meeting this Sunday (Sept 2).

It is being staged by the newly-formed Friends of Cockey Moor and Whitehead Lodges.

The group was formed by Mrs Elaine Shirt, of Waddington Close, Bury, who is the current chairman of Bury Environment Forum's Urban Issues Group.

She has circulated up to 5,000 leaflets to homes in the vicinity of the lodges, urging residents to attend the meeting which will be held at noon at the Bolton Road Sports Club in Bury. In her letter, Mrs Shirt stressed that the drainage of the lodges would not require planning permission and would, therefore, attract prospective developers. The land is included within the sales package embracing the former Elton Cop Dyeing works and Elton Vale reservoir.

Elton's owners, Cheshire-based IPT Group, have put the works and lodges up for sale with an asking price of £1.5 million.

This week, Mrs Shirt did not rule out the possibility of a bid ultimately being made to buy the lodges alone in an effort to safeguard their future.

"Perhaps the land and lodges might be of interest to the Red Rose Forest," she said.

"Maybe some organisations, like woodland trusts, sporting and angling clubs who have the money, could come in and say they can use this land.

"I think it would be a great idea if organisations that had the money could utilise these lodges and look after them."

Ideally, she says, she would like the lodges to be managed as a local nature reserve.

Mrs Shirt said that she was delighted with the overwhelming support her campaign had already generated. Sunday's meeting, she added, would be a "brainstorming" session.

The £1.5 million package is being marketed by Manchester-based GVR Grimley's.

Mr David Newall, a partner in the property advisers, said: "We are asking a very low price. We've been actively marketing this for the last two months and we're obviously hoping to dispose of the property and the lodges combined.

"There have been a number of parties who have shown interest in the sale of this asset."

The Walshaw Road-based Elton works, which closed in January with 80 job losses, encompasses 100,000 sq ft.

Told of the concerns of residents, Mr Newall added: "What the property and the land are subsequently used for is up to the purchaser."

And he also stressed that if local people wanted to discuss the acquisition of the lodges, he would be happy to talk to them.