A NINE-hole golf course could be built at Radcliffe E'es, but only if local people are prepared to put up with five years of tipping.

More than 100 people are expected to pack Radcliffe Hall Primary School next Thursday, October 23, when a public meeting will be held to discuss the controversial issue.

The 7pm meeting at the Bury Street school will also be used by representatives of the East Lancashire Paper Mill to unveil their amended development proposals.

The Stockport golf course design company, Anthony Construction, has submitted an application to build a pay-as-you-play golf course in the Tower Farm area.

But the deal is dependent on them being allowed to first use the land to dump 700,000 cubic metres of builders' waste over a five-year period.

The land in question has been used by both the East Lancashire Paper Mill and Wimpey Waste Management as a landfill site.

But the public reaction to Wimpey's bid to extend tipping in 1991 does not bode well for Anthony Construction.

Back then Bury Council supported residents' concerns that further dumping would cause loss of amenities to residents and schoolchildren through noise, smells and general disturbance.

The council refused Wimpey permission, but the company lodged and appeal and won a public inquiry.

Wimpey said it would fill the site, which would be extended from 10.5 to 17.9 acres, cover it with topsoil and landscape it with grass and trees within five years. The land would then be given to Bury Council.

Radcliffe councillor Mr Kevin Scarlett said: "In the five years since then there has been no tipping and no landscaping. Now, out of the blue, an application has been made for tipping and once again we are being promised that if we wait five years we will be rewarded."

The agent for Anthony Construction, Mr David Appleton, stressed that there would be "very beneficial effects" if permission for the landfilling and golf course is granted. He said: "Bury Council own part of the land and Anthony Construction's own proposals for the site mirror the council's vision for the area. Besides the golf course there would be additional landscaping making it very scenic."

In addition a relationship has been forged with the ELPM, which also owns part of the land. Anthony Construction have agreed to relocate the company's cricket ground, freeing land that can be used for the mill's expansion.

The ELPM will reveal its amended plans for the site at next week's meeting.

Controversy arose earlier this year when the thriving company announced it wanted to to build a new paper-machine house, associated plant and warehouse. Other proposals included demolishing a warehouse, a boilerhouse and effluent treatment plant and closing off Church Street East, with Cross Lane becoming a new access to the site.

A public meeting was held to gauge the views of local residents, 85 per cent of whom had objected to the proposals.

They feared an increase in heavy goods traffic, danger and noise and were concerned about the effect on wildlife as the company planned to drain two of the largest on-site lodges.

Coun Scarlett said: "Along with my fellow Radcliffe Central councillors, I am encouraging as many members of the public as possible to attend the meeting. They will be able to hear the revised proposals, ask questions, make comments and voice any concerns they may have."

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.