A DATE for a public inquiry to decide the fate of a Bury wildlife haven has been formally set.

On January 11 and 12, Bury Council, supported by residents from Newington Drive, will defend its decision to reject planning proposals to build homes on the wildlife-rich Barracks Lodge.

Stately Developments Ltd wants to fill in the lodge and build 16 new homes on the site at the rear of Newington Drive. The scheme was refused in May by Bury's planning bosses on environmental grounds.

The developers went on to carry out a programme of "essential maintenance" works, including the felling of trees and draining of the lodge. Campaigners accused Stately of systematically destroying the very reason the site was saved.

The inquiry will be held at Bury Town Hall. Meanwhile, workmen visited the lodge last week to drain the lodge for the third time.

Leading campaigner and chairman of the Barracks Lodge Community Association (BLCA), Mr Michael Wellock, said: "Over the previous weeks we have watched the water level rise. Everyone has been heartened that heavy rain must have washed silt into the culvert and provided a plug for the lodge.

"Nature was returning all by itself. Thirteen geese, several Mallard ducks and Mute swans were seen on the lodge in the days before this new draining."

However, in a brief statement, Stately bosses have said the latest works were carried out to repair damage "caused by others".

The BLCA has again accused Stately of trying to pre-empt the public inquiry decision by trying to ensure that there is no wildlife in the lodge.

Mr Wellock said: "We are writing to the planning inspectorate with our comments so that the inspector will have no doubts that Stately are trying to present him with a brownfield site, created two months before the inquiry, rather than a century plus old wildlife habitat."

The managing director of Bolton-based Stately, Mr Matthew Berry said: "Work carried out recently is not maintenance.

"We are repairing damaged caused by others."

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