A MAN who claims a proposed landfill site would desecrate the memory of miners killed in the town's biggest pit disaster, has taken his fight to the Prime Minister.

Paul Dufficy, who lives in Lupin Drive, Haydock, directly opposite the site off Vista Road where the former Wood Pit was situated, has written to Tony Blair slamming the decision.

And Paul, whose ancestor was among the 189 men killed when the pit collapsed in 1878, told the Star: "Most of workers lost their lives including my own ancestor and I would imagine that most people whose families have lived in the town for generations will also have lost at least one relative."

Paul was so annoyed that he was prompted to put pen to paper in a letter to Prime Minister, Tony Blair and was surprised and pleased when he received a reply which stated that his letter had been forwarded to the Department of Environment.

He added: "To be honest, I didn't really expect a reply but now I hope something can be done. In my opinion, the only suitable option is to leave the land as a permanent memorial to all those lives lost.

A spokeswoman for St Helens Council, who were against the plans for the site, told the Star: "The council were totally opposed to the landfill site on Vista Road and turned down the initial plans but following an appeal, the Government agreed to it and we have no choice but to abide by their decision."

However, Ashton-based author Ian Winstanley, who wrote a book, 'Weep Mothers, Weep', about the disaster, said: "There is already a memorial in St James' Park dedicated to the 189 who died in the Wood Pit disaster. I think a better decision would be to preserve the tip site and turn it into a heritage centre."

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